Fretting the Small Stuff

Champion Baby Namers

This Saturday, The Prof and I drove to a wedding for one of his former students and research assistants.  We decided that prior to this trip we would take the baby name book and list of names so that we could work on it in the car.  As you may recall, picking a name turned out to be a difficult endeavor.  Once we knew we were having a boy, the choices narrowed down considerably.  I sat down with the best baby naming book, The Baby Name Wizard, and came up with a relatively long list of boy's names I liked and gave The Prof the option to do the same.  Interestingly enough, he trusts my judgment and did not ask to look at the book for other names.  As we drove, I would say a name and it would get a yes, no, or okay.  There were few yeses on both of our part, many okays, and only a few nos.  I read the okays again and we actually eliminated all of them for various reasons.  Names I originally thought I loved suddenly fell under the no list.  Honestly, I love all three names.  I feel like we can hold on to all of them and see what he is like when he's born.  Well, basically make a snap judgment of what name fits him best and voila!  He is named!

On another note, we are finishing up the registry and oh my, we are still a little befuddled.  The Prof told me that I am better at this sort of thing and let me go to town.  I think the choices overwhelmed him.  We will be heading to Babies R' Us this weekend to look in person and try to finalize our choices.  And then our heads will simultaneously explode.  In order to be the best registering mother to be, I emailed five friends who are relatively new mothers to ask what items they thought we definitely needed and what items we should avoid.  While I'm on the subject, if those of you who have children want to do the same, I would absolutely appreciate any help you can provide.  As I said, we are amateurs at this whole parenting business and any friendly advice you wish to share will be appreciated. 

Bossy's Poverty Party: The Baby Registry Edition

At some point, I decided that I should start a baby registry and headed over to Big Box Baby Store.  Sure there are hip alternative indie shops where I would to order cool clothes, organic beds, and free range toys (huh?) but I have to keep in mind that those shops tend to be spendy and most folks wouldn't have a clue where to look.  And I know, it's not all about folks buying things for the baby but in reality, they want to so I must oblige AND make it easier. 

I set up my account and cocked my head at the computer when it asked me what the theme of the baby's bedroom is.  Wha?  I don't know...a baby theme?  I left that blank.  And then I noticed that it had a suggestion for new parents so of course, being a new parent and more clueless than you would care to know, I clicked.  DEAR GAH!  The list seemed endless with different categories and items clearly I could not identify.  And being the savvy consumer (well with the exception of seeing pretty red shoes on Zappos and ordering them without hesitation), I knew that Big Box Baby Store wanted me to BUY! BUY! BUY! and I knew I needed help.  So what's a girl to do?  Email Opposite Twin, my dear friend who recently had a beautiful baby boy and incidentally was the only one who guessed correctly that The Prof and I were having a boy.

Being even more consumer savvy than I, she directed me to the best book in the entire universe:  Baby Bargains by Denise Fields.  Amazon soon sent me this glorious book and I sat on the living room couch for two straight hours absorbing this great masterpiece.  In fact, I didn't notice when the sun had gone down and I barely felt the need to turn on a light.  The author provided insights on where to buy items, what manufacturers avoid, what I definitely need to purchase new, why I should avoid baby stores for certain items, and what I absolutely do not need to purchase.  It was like the sky opened and Irish Wolfhound angels sang to me and all was right in the baby shopping world. 

What does this all mean?  First, I do not need to purchase every item on the the registry list just because it is suggested or strongly suggested by Big Box Baby Store.  Second, research is key to being a smart consumer.  Without helpful tips from experts and experienced friends, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the choices.  Third, I can be creative when it comes to certain items like dressers, rockers, and book shelves.  I don't need to buy a matching furniture set for someone who really could not care less.  I can use antique dressers handed down by family, stain unfurnished bookshelves (or at least The Prof can) and look at rockers and gliders at regular furniture stores.  Plus, the baby does not need every loud, shiny, blinky toy on the market.  In fact, The Prof and I would rather he not have those types of toys.  Our dear friends in Boston have a lovely boy nearing two years old and I admired the minimal amount of toys he had.  Most of the toys were educational and his father made blocks for him with which he loves to play.  And can I say that this little boy speaks better than some adults I've encountered. Finally, consult someone, and that is Opposite Twin, for advice on what she liked, didn't like, and what we will absolutely need.

So here are our goals: we plan on sticking to the basics and buying only what is absolutely necessary.  There is no need to decorate with an elaborate theme with all the matching lamps, curtains, and bedding when we all know everyone will become sick of it.  Being the hippy liberals we are: we plan on sticking with educational toys, books and I'm sure when he's old enough, many many chemistry sets. And of course, being hikers, we plan on introducing him to the wonderful world of the camping, hiking and eventually skiing.   Hopefully our minimalistic vision will hold because not only is it good for our wallet, it is also the responsible thing to do for the earth.

It's a...

Boy! 

We had the 20 week ultrasound and so far, everything looks normal.  Of course, he is the cutest baby in utero.  I would post an ultrasound picture but I'm not that tech savvy and the scanner does not do the picture justice.  The little Guido (no, not really his name) is an active little man.  I feel kicks, punches, and movement more and more each day.  Honestly, I enjoy it, although I realize the harder he kicks, I might be eating my words.  It is a nice reminder to know he's there and doing his thing. 

Baby Names Now...Travel Later

I'm back!  Now what about baby names?  Thank GOD we are going to find out the gender of the baby because if we had to pick out names for both a boys AND a girl, well, the baby might have a name like Chair or Epidural.  I had no idea it would be so hard, did you?  We have a grand total of two girl names we might like or we might not depending on how the wind is blowing.  When my parents had me, their "little surprise package" (no joke, they call(ed) me that), they allowed my siblings (former bloggers on this site) vote on my name.  The choices were Donna (dear god what were my folks thinking), Eileen (good Irish name?), and Andrea.  You all know what they picked - probably Gertrude to spite me but got vetoed.  So I thought, well this baby doesn't have older siblings, we can't go that route but perhaps there is another path we can follow. 

Drum roll.

We can let the cats vote!  We'll put each name on a piece of paper and put them equally spaced out on the floor.  Whatever name they go to the most will be the baby's name.  It's brilliant!

Or am I over thinking this plan?