Still No Name

We just got interesting suggestions from our friends - and especially from their three year old, Adriana: she says for a boy: Arthur, and for a girl: Tree. Hmmm... might need to think about that second one definitely interesting but maybe too movie star for us...

Normally when seeking inspiration I turn to Bob Geldof (everyone does, right?), but maybe not when it comes to naming a baby. If you don't know, his three daughters are named Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom, and Little Pixie Frou-Frou (apparently borrowed from a British comic strip lampooning him and his earlier name choices). Since Peaches has made a public appeal for celebrities to use normal names for their children. Looks like I'll have to seek inspiration elsewhere... I just don't know what the world is coming to when you can't model your life after celebrities?!?

Pressure

Choosing a name for one’s soon-to-be-born must be one of the most difficult tasks in the world. How do you pick a name that will stand the test of time - be cute when they are young and not too cute when they are old? A unique name that reflects your child’s personality- yet not too creative least they be mocked at school? All this before actually meeting the person whose fate you have to decide. I left myself plenty of time (5 weeks give or take the young one’s arrival) - I am feeling the pressure. 5 name books later and Andrew and I have yet to agree on a name- let alone 4- first and middle name for each possible sex.
Some names seem like great ideas until you actually say them out loud. Take Maisie or Koren for instance. Does Andrew really want a permanent reminder of his PhD topic?
Our process has been this- we each compiled 2 lists of names we like (one for each sex) then the other one went through and crossed off those they couldn’t stand. We then pondered them for some time. And then decided we hate all of them. Argghhhh.
What is wrong with calling a baby “baby”? We could change their name every time they go through a significant milestone- “toddler”- “preschooler” etc. Hmm- I hear that legal name changes don’t come cheap- perhaps I should reconsider.
We are putting out a request for suggestions. We are looking for interesting but not too interesting names. Nothing starting with B or Z. The last name would most likely be a hyphenated combination of our two last names- so nothing too long. Please do not be insulted if your suggestion isn’t used- I am apparently very picky when it comes to names. I also have a large store of unusable names that already belong to “other” people (friends, enemies, celebrities or fictional characters).

Victoria Day (aka May 2-4 – not much drinking going on here)

Andrew planting his little heart out- notice tools in background. Andrew loves his combination hoe cultivator tool.

Fresh from the garden- cutting back all the bleeding hearts that have sprung up.

Nancy, Zoe and Belly at 34 weeks freezing in Guelph on Victoria day.





Work is over and I am now on maternity leave. Must reorganize and plan out next few years as apparently life-changing event is imminent. Rented a car and made so many large purchases re baby that credit card company called to verify it hadn’t been stolen. We are now proud owners of Zooper Zydeco stroller. This is the result of spending too much time researching “the best” on the Internet. Let’s hope it works out and isn’t “too much stroller” for us.

On Monday (Victoria Day) Nancy and Attila came to visit us in Guelph- we were planning on doing our planting- but the cold, cold, frigid weather prevented us from doing anything too productive.

For the next few weeks Andrew valiantly attempted to hoe and plant out gardens. Weather was either extremely hot or stormily wet. He managed to finally finish June 6. We now have a large area of clover seeded, which we hope will choke out all the weeds and be lawn-like soon. We have a gigantic plot of pumpkins- from seed Andrew saved from our jack ‘o’ lanterns from Halloween 2005. We may have to open a roadside stand. We have planted some organic heirloom tomatoes, hot peppers, sweet peppers, zucchini, peas, lettuce and beans- lots of beans. We also have some herbs, perennial and annuals planted around- including a Miss Kim lilac bush. So far everything looks good- although ants have taken to eating our basil. I read that cucumber peel will keep them away- so we are diligently eating our peeled cucumbers and placing them in ant repelling barricades around the plants. So far something else seems to be benefiting from the peels and wanders off with them each night.