Rambling, Jumbled Thoughts

Well, we made it through the rest of the alphabet. We came up with some interesting names, and I think that there are a couple that we really like that we'll keep thinking about. We'll see.

The delivery date is starting to loom. In some ways, December sounds SO FAR away. Then, in others, it seems that there is so much to do that at the pace we're going, none of it is ever going to get done. I think that on C's next appointment, the doctor is going to tell us to go to prenatal classes. Hmmmmm... Not sure what I think about that. I'm trying to reserve judgement, and I'm being mostly successful. On good days.

So, C and I will have the first grandchild on both sides of the family, which is fun. I think it means that Baby L (its an L day again) will get more spoiled. I think it also means that her arrival will require some, shall we say 'getting used to' for certain members of our family. My younger brother, who is in his early twenties, has never been around babies, and isn't comfortable when they are nearby. He most certainly doesn't want to touch one (egad!).

A couple of weekends ago we went boating at a local lake. My cousin, his wife, and their 9 month old baby boy were all there with us. My brother wasn't sure what to make of a 9 month old. He thought it was weird that it was in the in between stage: not quite infant, not quite toddler. "They come in that size?" he wanted to know. Well, no. But they do GROW to be that size .

It will be interesting to see how he behaves as an uncle. I'm thinking that it will take some getting used to for him, but that in the end he will adjust.

Well, we are now in the 26th week. Now I've started having dreams that C goes into labor early. Last night I dreamed that she went into labor this week. It was not a good dream. Twenty six weeks is way too early. I awoke this morning with the panic of the event still giving me a sick feeling in my stomach.

My guess is that this dream came about because C spent the evening last night saying that she hadn't felt Baby L moving all evening, and it was making her nervous. Apparently it made my subconscious nervous as well.

No worries there, though, because this morning Baby L is active again and moving. C describes the movements as Baby L adjusting the reading lamp. Ooooh! I hope Baby L likes to read.

Well, this has been kind of a rambled jumble of thoughts this morning. Not very focused on any specific event, but these are some of the thoughts I've been having over the last couple of weeks.

C has her last "4-week" appointment next week. After that, she switches to the 2-week schedule. So that will be exciting. This is getting close.

I guess I better get the boxes out of the spare room. It won't be spare for much longer.

We hope.

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The Name Game, an ABC exercise

As you know, we are expecting a baby girl sometime in December. About a month ago, we went in for the twenty-week ultrasound appointment. The ultrasonographer and C's doctor were both almost certain that the new addition will be a girl.

Because we now know the gender, apparently we are supposed to be thinking of names. Everybody we meet asks us if we have picked a name yet.

"Can't you give us a little time?" I silently wonder? After all, we are barely half way there! But just about everybody asks us "the question" when they know the gender and find out how far along we are.

Dealing with this has been harder than I anticipated. From the very beginning, C and I decided that we didn't want to talk publicly about the names we liked or had chosen. For some reason, people seem to think that if the baby hasn't been born yet, then they can give whatever opinion they want about the name that you have selected.

Everybody, it seems, thinks that we care about their opinion.

Frankly, we don't. Not to be rude, but I'm not going to give my child a different name because your best friend in elementary school had a dog with the name we like.

Guess what? I don't care. We are going to pick the name that feels right and sounds right to us. Our neighbors, friends, and well-meaning relatives are invited to keep their opinions to themselves.

However, I can't come right out and say that to them. So instead, I found a way to deflect the question whenever it comes up. I decided to go through the alphabet, one letter at a time, and each day we will think of girl names that start with that letter. We started with the letter A, and today we are on the letter K. When people ask us what names we're thinking about, we say something like, "Well, today is a K day. What girl names do you like that start with K?"

I've found that this is a pretty good solution. It deflects the conversation away from us having to provide the names we like, and instead, we get to let people give their input on names they like instead. They can give their opinion on names without us having to be the ones who provided the fodder for analysis.

Judgement of the names is left to us, which we can do, in private. And in case you are wondering, there is a name or two that we like above the others. But I'm not going to tell you what it is. December will arrive, the baby will be born, and her name will be announced to the world. Once it is announced and attached to a beautiful baby girl, people will have to keep their dislike of the name to themselves. Until then, we welcome your suggestions.

Kindly remember, however, that today is a K day. And if you ask what names we like, we'll try to deflect the question so subtly that you don't even realize we've done it, unless we tell you about it. Like this post: a paragraph that starts with each letter used so far; discovering names with a new letter every day.

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