Presenting the old and new Merida. Photo: Disney/PixarSo it turns out that Merida, the rebellious redhead star of Disney’s Pixar film “Brave,” is true princess material after all, and Disney is coronating her as its 11th official princess on Saturday at Walt Disney World to prove it. But wait, there’s a catch.

More from Shine: Animated Disney Characters who were Based on Real Actors

Turns out that Merida’s only joining the royal lineup after a corporate makeover that’s rendered her skinnier, sexier, and more glamorous than her original spunky, tomboyish self—stripping her, at least in some images, of her trusty bow and arrow, and putting her into the very dress that her character detested in “Brave.” It’s sparked outrage among thousands of mothers for whom Merida offered, finally, an empowering Disney role model for their girls.

“Merida was the princess that countless girls and their parents were waiting for—a strong, confident, self-rescuing princess ready to set off on her next adventure with her bow at the ready,” reads a Change.org

Win Ellen's Mother's Day prizes, exclusively for first-time pregnant moms-to-be! Ellen is giving away thousands of dollars in Mother's Day gifts to one lucky Yahoo! Shine reader!

If you're a first-time pregnant mom-to-be, you can walk away with a stroller, an iPad Mini, diapers and more fabulous baby swag!

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I know the headline of this post is a bit on the terrifying spectrum, but it's the exact same phrase used on the subheading of a press release issued by Save the Children this week that highlights some of their major findings in this year's State of the World's Mother report. What I find astonishing about the U.S. being the industrialized country with the highest first-day death rate, is that it's so unexpected for all of us that live here. We think that issues like infant mortality are problems faced by third world countries and that distance can make us a bit immune to it, but Save the Children is telling us that issues affecting our babies are hitting home and are, in fact, a global motherhood concern.

Related: 5 lessons I want my daughter to learn about growing fearless

The new report shows that 50 percent more U.S. babies die on their first day-11,300 in 2011-
than babies in all other industrialized countries combined. That's due, in part, to the U.S.'s higher
rates of preterm

With Kimye's little fashionista and Kate's baby prince or princess expected in July, summer 2013 will surely go down in history as The Season of The Celebrity Baby. But let's not forget all the little ones who've arrived over the past 12 months and in doing so have given their mommies the right to demand and receive extra sleep, breakfast in bed, cards, photos, spa appointments, heaps of jewelry and what ever else they'd like this weekend. These celebrities are newbies to the Mother's Day club, with many years of macaroni art and overcooked scrambled eggs to look forward to. Click through for 7 celebrity mamas celebrating their first Mother's Day! -By Sarah Bernard

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Image: WarmSleepy/Creative CommonsIf your baby loves his pacifier, then you know how awful it is when it hits the ground in a public place where you've got nowhere to clean it. But when the baby is crying for it and you've got nowhere to turn, desperate times call for desperate measures. It becomes time to bite the bullet and clean the dirt off by popping it in your own mouth and cleaning it with your own saliva. While it all sounds disgusting (it's amazing what parents will do for their babies), it turns out that in doing this you may actually be giving your child much more than just the chance to soothe themselves again.

Read More: Why Amish Kids Have Fewer Allergies

In a study published in the online journal Pediatrics, a team of Swedish doctors followed more than 180 infants and their pacifier habits as well as their development of allergies several months later. The doctors collected and analyzed the saliva of the infants at four months old. The infants' pacifier use and cleaning methods were recorded at six

Neil Patrick Harris Talks About His Twins!

The handsome singer/actor/magician is also a father of two! He told Ellen all about his adorable twins.

Come on, admit it. Buried deep in your past, photo album, or childhood frame lies a photo of you and your mom that you would sooner die than post on Facebook. You know the one-maybe you're wearing a scrunchie, a J-Crew anorak, or proudly holding a violin and your mom is sporting pleated denim or oversize eyeglasses. In honor of Mother's Day, we've rounded up the most painfully awkward "mom and me" photos from the days of yore (celebrities included!), moments as timeless as your relationship with your mom. Enjoy!