Laurie Baker, brand marketing manager at Kid Made Modern and owner of LB Finds, is a Single Mother by Choice living in Chicago. She welcomed her first child, daughter Penny Mae, on March 31, 2022.
We talked to Laurie about her journey to motherhood and naming Penny.
I ended up going to a doctor and talking about AMH levels and freezing eggs. But there was no way I could afford it. I was way in debt from living in Lincoln Park as a Trixie and having champagne taste on a beer budget. I couldn’t afford to freeze my eggs and I also couldn’t tell you that at 40, I’d want to do it on my own. I didn’t even want to ask for a loan because I wasn’t sure how serious I was at that point.
Then I started my vintage shop LB Finds and got out of debt in a year — it was nuts. I’d go to the Goodwill on my lunch hour and back again later.
At 40, I had lunch with my friend Ashley. We were talking and she said, “Well, why can’t you have a kid now?” I had some friends who had done it, but I was always like, “I don’t know…” But that day was my Oprah moment. I made an appointment with the doctor.
I went through three IUIs, two IVFs, and nothing worked. Fertility clinics shut down completely during the first months of the pandemic. It sucked — you’re on this road and then you have to stop completely. When they picked back up in June, I tried one more IVF cycle. I thought for sure it was going to work — I totally thought that I was pregnant. But, of course, it didn’t work. So I switched clinics.
My new doctor was great. Eventually, I was pregnant! Getting pregnant was like a third job. It took over.
Angela’s Penny is actually Penelope. I wanted just Penny because my real name is Lauren, but I go by Laurie. Half the people in my life call me Lauren because that’s what’s on my resume, and the other half call me Laurie. I wanted my child to have one name.
I had a C-section, and when she came out, the doctors asked me if I wanted to hold the baby first, or if my sister should. I had the shakes really badly from the medication, so my sister took her and asked, “Is her name Penny Mae?” I said, “I…don’t…know…” I didn’t want to make a decision until she came out — I wanted to see her first.
It wasn’t until afterwards in the recovery room that I decided. But I didn’t even have to look at her to know. I was like, “It’s Penny Mae.” It fits her really well.
When Mae found out the next morning, it was magical. She only calls her Penny Mae. I had a few people ask if Penny Mae was her first name. She’s just Penny, but I have a feeling a lot of people will call her Penny Mae.
Naming is the same way I feel about parenting her. It’s not easy, but it’s nice to not have someone to fight with over the way that you’re doing things. It was my decision.
If she was a boy, she was going to be Carl — my grandfather’s name. My grandpa was amazing, He was very funny, very sarcastic.
When I graduated college and was living with my boyfriend, I wanted to name a daughter Annabelle. My great-grandma was Sylvia, and I like that too.
I love the name Lola, but that was my dog’s name for 12 years, so that would have been a little weird.
It also matches the aesthetic of LB Finds, which I would really like to continue. I’ve tried going to shops with Penny and it’s very hard. I usually pop in and out within minutes, but now I have to take Penny out and deal with the stroller… it’s exhausting. Even having her in the carrier is difficult.
My hope is that I’ll get the motivation to do it again. My biggest season is Christmas. I go to my hometown of Lafayette, Indiana, and buy tons of vintage Christmas stuff. So I might just sell around the holidays.
People should freeze their eggs if they’re not in a committed relationship, want to have kids, and can afford it. I really want to support single mothers by choice.
There are these blocks that you can order on Etsy — they have a P, her birth time, and her weight. They’re very sweet gifts — I actually got two of them!
Her changing pad is Keekaroo — one that you can just wipe down, which I love. This week I discovered the brand Goumi — their pajamas are amazing. I love gowns for her for nighttime.
I bought the Artipoppe carrier for myself, which is expensive but awesome.
I have an aesthetic and I know it’s not a big deal, but my friends bought her a Fisher-Price bright pink plastic thing. I finally brought it out after having a rough night with Penny, and she freaking loves it.
Lincoln Park Zoo opens at 8am, so I want to take her one morning just to get outside. I’m glad that I had Penny in the Spring! The winter would have been depressing because it’s hard to get out. I feel like I have to leave the house at least once a day.
Artipoppe carrier
Keekaroo changing pad
Goumi pajamas
Fisher Price playmat
Custom baby block
Misha & Puff cardigan
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Thank you so much, Laurie!
Photos via Laurie Baker and A Little Photo Studio
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Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.
Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at [email protected]. Sophie lives in Chicago.
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