Tuesdays with Rory // Episode V

At eight months, Rory is learning new tricks at warp speed. She is sitting, babbling, trying new foods, rocking, waving, and anyday now, we anticipate her rapid roll will transition to a quick crawl.

With all these new skills and change, I can’t help but think about what skills and experiences Rory may have in the future as she grows up. 

I’m currently taking a class on the Internet of Things (IoT) through edx.org with Curtin University. The first module provides case studies of IoT at work — one of them being autonomous vehicles. And perhaps, in my own future blindness, I was shocked by the stat that some say by 2040 more than 75% of cars on the road will be autonomous. 

Just think how different the milestone of turning 16 years old will be in the year 2034. As less emphasis is placed on the driver, will there be the same level of importance with this manmade milestone of 16 years of age? Perhaps, being able to drive a car (this is clearly a rural, suburban, urban sprawl, never-lived in a big city girl talking) will not be a clear marker of growing up.

Am I starting to sound like an old person, complaining about how kids these days aren’t learning cursive? The lost art of handwriting is now the lost art of driving down a country road, stopping at the stop sign, and reminding oneself to inch out past the corn for greater clearance before taking the turn. 

Anyways, my key takeaways here are: (1) we absolutely cannot count the skills we have learned as sacred, (2) there is so much for our future generations (and us) to learn, and (3) cherish the moments that we have, for they may be just a glimmer in time.

Tuesdays with Rory // Episode IV

My pregnancy was pretty low key. So much so that we didn’t have our first doctor’s appointment until week 13. I participated in two wedding parties, visited 11 states, and traveled by plane on New Year’s Eve. Easy peasy.

And with that, we settled back into our apartment with a month to spare before my due date – just the right amount of time (in my mind) to efficiently nest and prepare for Baby Aurora’s arrival.

Looking to maximize my time in the office as much as possible, CC reluctantly picked me up from work to usher me into my 34-week check-up. We were ready to run in and out.

That didn’t happen. Instead we were sent next door to the hospital where I was to be on bedrest with monitoring until Miss Rory’s arrival. 

I wasn’t ready! In my mind – Rory needed to seriously slow her roll. We didn’t have her nursery setup. I still had projects at work that needed to be closed out. And with how big babies are born these days, we didn’t exactly have newborn (or smaller) clothes at the ready.

Yet, here we were. I was hooked up to an IV and contained in a hospital room. I couldn’t do this by myself. In my weakness, I was going to need to rely on my best friend – to prepare our home for Rory, to select my clothes, to order and deliver food other than red gelatin from outside the hospital walls. And it was hard. So much pride was built up. I didn’t know how to ask for help.

Then the surrender came. And for the first time I was met with a heavy helping of humble pie.

I’m so thankful it did. A week later and Rory would be born via C-section, requiring a whole greater level of recovery time and support from family and friends. And as I learned to ask for help, I found that it wasn’t so hard to find. 

People showed up to be a part of our journey. And I’m now learning this help goes beyond the birth and initial care of my child. Learning to ask for help as we navigate life is essential. Whether it’s about a new challenge at work, a potential job opportunity, figuring out how to be a trendy mom, dealing with our insecurities, or figuring out how to communicate with a sibling or spouse, seeking support from friends or mentors that align with our own values enables us to overcome major crux points along the way.

So, this lesson is short and sweet for me. Don’t do life alone. They say raising a child takes a village. I believe this to be true. I also believe this to be true for adults too. So eat your own helping of humble pie and don’t be so worried about asking a question, seeking advice, or raising your hand when you need some help.    

The Story Behind Her Name

2017 has proven to be a year marked by transition for CC and myself. One notable and happy change for us is the beautiful news that we became pregnant. When we arrived at our first doctor’s visit, our news was made sweeter when we learned we were already one third of the way along (Praise Jesus!) with a healthy #BabyCrynes.

Since the news, Christien and I have begun the process of preparing for our tiny human to enter this world. Christien found the coolest illustrations by Dallas artist Arturo Torres to hang in our office/nursery/guest room hybrid. My mom was able to deliver the bassinet used by my Grandma Sibenaller to cradle her as a newborn that she then used to take care of us in our first months of life. My mother in law has also been so sweet, providing us with Baby Crynes’ first outfits. 

One activity we have taken particular care with is naming our growing child. At our 20th appointment we learned #BabyCrynes would be a tenacious baby GIRL. And with every measurement taken during the sonogram of her arms, chambers of her heart, and toes, we were reminded of how incredible of a miracle we are experiencing in this 9-month journey.

So today, I want to take the time to share the name of our daughter: Aurora Jane Navarette Crynes.

Aurora will be her first name. Approved nickname at this time is Rory. Aurora holds much meaning to us. My Grandfather was a lifelong resident of Aurora, Illinois, where he took great time to build community and establish traditions that my family cherishes to this day. One special tradition is the Lehnertz Avenue Christmas Light Display for which he was a founder. For over 60 years, the street my mom grew up on is lit up to tell the Christmas story as festive music plays throughout the drive ending at a simple, yet powerful manger scene with the star of David shining brightly above. 

Aurora also represents light of the world. CC and I pray that she will own her name as Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” No matter the what her future holds, we know that God has called her for such a time as this. 

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

— Matthew 5:16

Jane will be her first middle name. Jane is in memoriam of my Aunt Jane Mason. My Aunt Jane played a large role in my life. Every spring, like clockwork, my family would travel to Arizona for vacation where we would spend time with my Aunt Jane and family. Driving around running errands, she would remind us to appreciate the little things like a clear, sunny day when you can see the humps on Camelback mountain. At her home, she would roll out giant sheets of paper across the entire table so I could doodle over every piece of it. At some point, we would all get together to squeeze fresh lemons to make the very best homemade lemonade. 8 cups water, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup fresh lemon juice FYI. 

Her greatest influence on me however was during my college years. I decided to leave the comforts of my home state and attend Arizona State University. During those years, her home became my home. About once a month I would find my way to her house and fall asleep in the corner of her sofa from the pure exhaustion of my go-go-go nature. She was a nurturer, an encourager, and loved by people from all walks of life. Later in my college years, I saw her fight cancer with magnificent faith and an upbeat spirit. Despite the tremendous pain I know she felt, she would always put others’ needs before her own. She passed away just two months before our wedding day. Thanks be to God she got to see me in my wedding dress before the big day. I know she is smiling down on us today. CC and I are thankful her vigor for life and legacy will carry on with our little girl.

Navarette is Aurora’s second middle name. It is a name that is carried down from CC’s Grandma Sanchez, his mom and his sister Victoria. Family is incredibly important to us and the opportunity to honor our family through names is super special. Navarette is CC’s Grandma’s maiden name. His mom and sister hold it as a middle name, so we decided to carry it on as a tradition. This name comes with a tall order for baby Aurora. Christien’s Grandma Maggie is a feeler, caregiver, and knows how to cook from the depths of her heart and soul. The smell and taste of homemade enchiladas (more spicy that you can ever plan for), warm tortillas, refried beans, and Christien’s favorite menudo are all wrapped up in this name that carries heritage and the strength of an amazing family that comes to the rescue whenever someone is in need.

Aurora Jane Navarette we are so excited to meet you. Whether you fall in love with basketball or art or something your dad and I know nothing about, we are giddy and nervous to welcome you into this world in a few short months. It’s not always a pretty world. There are guys with an orange tan that like to yell constantly in 140 characters, there is more opportunity to show love and care for others different from you, technology continues to develop so rapidly that the email address and Instagram account I plan to secure for you will mean nothing by the time you know how to write, but man, are we lucky for you to join us. No one knows what the future holds, but we are dang excited to get to do it with you alongside our family, friends, and community. #CrynesLove