Baby Talk

I was hanging out with my friend and her six week old daughter today. We started talking about whether her and her husband were planning to have another baby soon or wait. She said she would love to have another soon. She already has names picked out!

With so many of my friends having babies or getting married lately, I've been forced to think about both a lot more than I used to. So much so, in fact, that we worked on my list of potential baby names.

While I cannot post these names for fear that others will add them to their lists, I will say that I love odd names-- names that are unusual and not common but normal enough that everyone will be able to pronounce them.

I still have a while before I have to pick just one though.

{photo via Flickr Kelley Ryden}

Too Old for My Name

When I graduated from college, I faced a dilemma even bigger than finding a job. I didn't know how to introduce myself to any future employers or acquaintances for that matter.

I grew up answering to Susie but when I started in college, I never corrected professors when they called me Susan. It seemed more fitting, more grown-up, but I'm still not used to it.

I always loved that I had a name that could be shortened, but now I'm starting to think it's not as great as I thought. I don't really feel like either name is fitting anymore. It may be because I'm in my twenties and Susie sounds like a five-year-old's name and Susan sounds like a 50 year old mom.

I think I've found my middle ground (until I turn 40 at least). In any professional setting, I'm Susan, but with friends or younger people, I'm Susie.

I wonder what names are fitting, no matter the age.

I Have a Thing for Middle Names

If I know you well at all, I know your middle name. I think that’s a clear indication of whether we are good friends. As weird as it sounds, I think middle names are much more important than first names and are very important for determining character. My middle name is Eileen. It means light. My older sister’s middle name is Anne, it means gracious, which is very fitting.

It is for this reason, I know I will stress over the middle names of my children. Although, I decided when I was very young that if I do have children, one will be named after my grandpa. That’s one name down.