Baby names and baby book

Since we found out that we are having a girl we've been trying to figure out names and such. (Well, that's a lie. I've been picking out names since I was 13). We set up several rules for ourselves based on our mutual experiences in school, work, and life.

Rule #1
The name must be gender specific.
That means no Erin, Ashley, Jordan, or Toni/Tony.

Rule #2
The name must be one that is only spelled traditionally.
That means no Sarah/Sara/Cera, Ashley/Ashleigh/Ashlie, or any name in which you could put a "y" or an "ie" in the place of normal vowels.

Rule #3
The name must be one which when read is obvious of how to pronounce, and which when heard is obvious of how to spell.
This rule does get a bit redundant with the other rules, but it pretty much means if we DID choose Sarah, that is how we would spell it.

Rule #4
The name must be a traditional name.
This one means that we won't choose a trendy name, or a name with an ethnic base other than roughly our own. For example, Tiffany was a trendy name 20 years ago. Now it is not.

and finally...

Rule #5
The name must pass the "waiting room test."
This is a simple test you can do yourself! When you are sitting in a waiting room for something, doctor, dentist, etc, listen to the name that they call out, and see if it would fit for anyone in the room. What it comes down to for us is does the name work for any age? While "Honey" is a cute name for a baby/child, it does not work for a 45 year old woman. While "Agatha" works well with a 65 year old woman, it does not work for anyone much younger.


I know we seem a bit ridiculous, but after all the name choices, and vetoes (I vetoed Emily, he vetoed Lucy - for breaking rule #5) we have come down to our choice....

Evelyn.

"Medical" leave

As of last week I am finished with work. I am on what is considerd medical leave. This encompasses several different things. But we'll be leaving it vague for now.

I haven't been at work since last Wednesday. Which is really only 3 shifts that I've missed. But I miss it. I miss the kids so much. I was in the toy store today shopping for Ben's birthday present (how he managed to sneak by and be five I'll never know) when I saw a toy that I knew one of our little boys would have loved. I miss all the different personalities, and the sweet and pure caring that they gave. I miss the gentle swarm of hands asking to "pet the baby" a.k.a. rub my pregnant tummy.

As for pregnancy? Maybe it's the stress of leaving work suddenly, but I haven't been feeling great this week. Achy, sore, uncomfortable. I keep telling myself that this HAS to be the biggest I'll get. That there isn't any more ROOM for me to grow more. But deep down I know it's a lie.

Don't stop believing

I am on a quest... for the perfect kareokee song to sing for my bride-to-be friend Sarah. It's her bachelorette party this Saturday and she has chosen to hit the pub for some local talents singing and preforming. And since I recently downloaded and watched the entire first season of glee in four days I am reminded of how much fun I used to have singing in choir. Or listening to the Wellington Choir (because, lets face it, they were always the best.)

In other news, I do not like engraved items. How can you possibly ever do anything with it except throw it out? Maybe I am not a fan of the brushed silver picture frame with gem surrounded hearts spelling me and my husbands names. Did my mother in law ever think of that? No. But there it sits on my computer desk... I can see fingerprints on it. Yuck.

the sweeping insensitivity of this still life

I have sensed a change. A deffinite change inside my head. I was at work today, and sometimes when things get a bit crazy for a particular person they will take a mental health bathroom break. Which is understandable. In our feild of work there is something about certain children that make you want to beat the crap out of their parents. (Why oh why anyone can have children with no regulations regarding who drives me crazy!)

So anyways. Today I was feeling like I wanted to take a mental heath bathroom break and I had the thought that instead I should pray. Pray for guidance. Pray for strength. Pray for the knowledge that these children needed something from me to learn good.

I didn't do it. I thought about it. But didn't. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. I still have an issue with the idea of Jesus.

I also realized a change. I heard that someone I knew might be pregnant. Someone who deserved it. Who will be a wonderful mother. And I was happy. Is this because I am on my pregnant path, or because I'm just a better person?

Oh, What a night!

I've been doing some music discovering lately. I had several months where I just listened to my old stale music. But thanks to the very convienient digital radio we get with our cable package I am exposed to new music. Particularily, Paramore and Marina and the Diamonds. Now I do realize Paramore isn't new to me at all. But Marina and the Diamonds certainly are. So there.

I also have rekindled my love for the oldies by downloading some Frankie Vallee and the Four Seasons. We saw a cover group on the honeymoon and both loved it! (www.ohwhatanighttribute.com if you are interested. See them, they are worth it!).

News.. Married life is just the same as non-married life. Except for the fact that I still am amazed that we're actually married. It is truly weird to look at Tim and see a shiny ring on his finger. It's also weird getting used to a new last name. New signature, new initials, new everything! You don't realize how second nature a signature/initial signing is untill you sign the old one when you should sign the new one.

We are currently in the middle of month one of no MTX. Five and a half more months to go :s I've already noticed a difference in my wrists and ankles. I'm hoping this isn't a sign of things to come later on. But the baby at the end of this all will make it better!

Daycare annecdote for the post: NONE! Today was my day off!

Dissapointed?

I know when I check other people's blogs and they haven't updated in 15 days I get a little frustrated. Why aren't they posting? What is going on??

So I appoligise to anyone who was upset by this.

News: I have NOT caught H1N1. Although several children in my daycare have been diagnosed with it. I do currently have some sort of cold that dislikes me. We'll see what happens.

My wedding dress has arrived. As in MY dress! Not a store sample that hundreds of girls have tried on... MY gown! The one Tim will see and be amazed by. Absolutely stunned.

I also have a new week and a half old nephew named Kadyn! Pronouced Kay-den, for those of you who might be confused. He is adorable, which isn't confusing. And I am so completely jealous I would love to take him home. I was teasing Tim that I wouldn't take him, because he is a boy and I want a girl.

"Yeah right." He said scornfully. "If someone came up to you and said, 'This boy baby or NO baby.' You would take him."

"Absolutely." I said. People very rarely give away free babies. Although I used to have daydreams that while I was hanging my arms out the car window a baby would fall from the sky from a plane and they would let me keep it because I saved it from smushing onto the ground. Dreams die hard, hey?

Speaking of dreams... I had three in a row where my oldest younger brother was angry at me. Which is silly, because he's not. None of my brothers are. Although the middle one might be rejecting everyone :s

I have decorted somewhat. I'm not allowed a tree untill December. And I can't do it on my own because the tree is extremely huge and difficult. It is a two person job.

the snowball effect

I already knew how true it was, but it is just plain fact that once things start to roll, they go faster and faster untill they smash into something.

I don't want to smash.

I wish I had someone on the other side to talk to.