Lately I’ve been grappling with baby names. For the life of me, I can’t seem to find a name that fits (and that hubby hasn’t vetoed). Honestly? I kind of hate naming babies. It’s torture for a perfectionist to choose something so permanent, not even knowing who the little person will be. Deep down I know it’s not that big of a deal. It is just a name. I’ve done it before, and it worked out well. We love DoodleBug’s name. Still, I’m struggling.
Family names? Mildred. Boyer. Lois. All too old-fashioned. I mean, I’m a traditional-kind-of-name girl, but those are just a little too…stuffy.
And then there are the names that past students have ruined forever. Amber. Alyssa. Natalie. Those names will forever belong to those girls…and not in a good way.
It’s a complex process for me.
The little therapist who lives in my head (Anybody else a member of this little club? I believe membership is free after you’ve been to actual therapy.) says that even if I found “THE” name, I still wouldn’t be able to commit. I suppose she’s right. Once we pick a name, it all becomes a little more real. Somehow, even with the baby paraphernalia blanketing the house and Baby Girl kicking inside my ever-growing stomach, I manage to live in denial about the change that is coming. My girlfriends with two kids tell me it’s a familiar feeling – you are so busy with life, the second pregnancy ninja-sneaks by you, until BAM! You’re holding a newborn in your arms and repeating the words “gentle, please” so often they have lost their meaning.
Am I ready for this to be real? I suppose I don’t have much of a choice, seeing as Baby Girl is doing this:
The reality is that avoiding naming her isn’t keeping her from existing. I so want her to exist, but I’m terrified at the same time. So, I’m gonna take a deep breath, accept that this is scary and new (and that’s okay), and pick a name. I can do this.
p.s. How hot are the sweatpants? I mean, really. My belly pics just keep getting sexier and sexier.
Wife, mommy, music teacher, lover of books. Dabbles in parenthood. New england yuppy + southern girl hybrid. PPD survivor. Anxiety battler. Kicked antenatal depression's ass. Currently medicated. Who isn't?
OMG OMG OMG OMG! First, WOW. The sex appeal of those sweats is coming through the screen and oozing down my monitor! HAHAHA-no seriously, comfort is always sexy mama-rock it!
Second, this video is so precious! So freakin cool! 3rd-your GF’s with 2 kids are right-the second does sneak by you, it’s a stealthy ninja for sure and makes you go “WHOA. How’d this happen?” BUT-it’s a doable adjustment. Just tell the perfectionist in you to back off for a few months so you can allow yourself time to get used to it and adjust to this new dynamic. I have to talk to my inner perfectionist all the time in this department lol. You can do this. And don’t sweat the name-it will come.
Love your perspective on this-wonderful post….and yea, membership in the “little therapist” club is free after you pay your initial dues
little ninja is awesome!
LOVE the video!!! i loved laying in my bed watching my belly move like that, but i never would have recorded it (i have ubs–ugly belly syndrome–it gets worse with pregnancy). isn’t it amazing!?!
and yes, it does creep up on you, but i felt a much faster personal connection to baby2 than baby1 after she was born.
and double yes, the hardest thing about pregnancy for me isn’t the back-pain, the constant need to pee, the sciatica, or general hard time sleeping and harder time being awake to take care of other responsibilities, it’s the name! good luck!