Name Game

Well, I don't know what we are naming the baby. Since we are only 16 weeks (today!) that isn't much of a problem. I am hoping it will be easier once we know what flavor of baby this is.

The other thing we are talking about is not telling people what the name is once we have chosen it. This post about my mother's reaction to our chosen middle name for a boy kind of explains why. Her hyena-laughter response is the strongest we've gotten, but it's not unusual that people to feel completely comfortable telling you exactly what they think about your ideas for names.

When naming comes up, people also love to interject their own suggestions. And then they get their feelings hurt if you don't want to use them. Or if you share what you are thinking about for potential names, they can think of a nasty ex-boyfriend that had that name, or the bratty girl in their second grade class that was always getting in trouble. It's open season when you haven't decided on a name, or even if you have decided on a name, as long as the baby isn't born. It actually bothers my husband more than it bothers me, but I still don't enjoy the name game.

So we have pretty much decided that we will not share the name that we have decided on until the baby is born. It has the dual benefit of not only being a surprise, but also hopefully safeguards us from the well-meaning suggestions and/or opinions.

I do have one name I'd like to share with you today. That is the name of my new favorite thing in the whole. wide. world. Sleeping has been getting a little less comfortable these past few weeks. I was never a back sleeper prior to pregnancy, but lately, I have been waking up on my back, panicked at what blood flow or oxygen supply I might have stolen from the baby. I have tried wedging pillows around me and even tying tennis balls between my shoulder blades.

Last night, my husband came home with this. At first, I was suspicious, especially when I saw the receipt and how much it cost. But after just one night with my new friend, I am a convert. It's worth every single penny. I slept better last night than I have in weeks. It was incredibly comfortable, so much so than the mountains of pillows that I was forever readjusting. It also kept me from rolling onto my back. Heavenly.