The present invention is directed to a fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer, methods of making the monomer, and latex polymers comprising the fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer. The monomers are derived by reacting unsaturated vegetable oils with ethanolamine or substituted ethanolamine. The vegetable oil derivative is then reacted with either (meth)acryloyl chloride or (meth)acrylic acid to form a fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer or the product of the reaction of hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate reacted with isophorone diisocyanate to form a urethane fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer. The increased hydrophilicity of the fatty amide (meth)acrylate monomer facilitates the diffusion through the aqueous phase. The monomer synthesis is designed to be glycerol ester-free to increase long term stability for monomers and polymers.