What's in a Name?

While pregnant I have found there is a certain line of questioning people ask me. It goes something like this:

Q: Congrats! When are you due?
A: December 19th.

Q: So how far along are you? (I think they ask this question to judge if my belly is "big" or not)
A: 5 months

Q: How are you feeling?
A: Great! I had a few weeks of all-day morning sickness early on, but wonderful now. Probably helps that I don't work all summer. So far, knock on wood, being pregnant is easier than having Celiac and not knowing it.

Q: Do you know if it's a boy or girl? Are you going to find out?
A: We don't know yet and yes we are going to find out.

Q: Oh fun! Do you have names picked out and are you sharing?
A: DOH. This question always trips me up. Not because we haven't thought of names, or that we don't want to share, but it's such an important question.

Being a teacher I come across a lot of names. A lot of names. In just my five years of teaching I have taught approx 900 students. There have been really pretty names, unique names, names that make me wonder what the heck the parents were thinking, names that didn't fit the kid at all, names that were spelled so differently that I mispronounced it for the better half of the year, and just names. Of course, I have names that I associate with certain students and for better or worse cannot name my child that. And there are names that would not go with our last name. It would be just cruel.

On top of all of this, there are nicknames to think about. For anyone who has spent a lot of time with JLO and his family, you know how quickly nicknames can develop. I realized this within a few months of being a part of the family. I went my whole life with one nickname (Stac) and now have at least two or three. JLO alone has three or four. Even Baby O has some (Meatroast, Secret Admirer, LJ (Little Joe, Linda Janet), Apple Delight).

So how is it that we are going to decide? Well, first we'll find out if it's a boy or girl. Then wait until I get my class rosters for this school year. And then meet him/her. I hope he/she won't hold it against us if for a few days after he/she is born we still say Baby O. It's a pretty important decision I don't think he/she wants us messing up.