On condition of anonymity

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever heard was from Hunter, and it was to our friends Kim and Cole right after they told us they were expecting.

To wit: Don't tell anyone what names you're considering for your baby. Because if you tell people before the baby's born, they'll feel compelled to tell you what they think of it, or about the person they knew with that name who was perfectly awful, or perfectly saintly, and wouldn't this name be better after all (insert one that gives you a case of the eye-rolls here)? But if you wait until after the baby's born, they'll coo and say they love it, and maybe criticize it in the car on the way home, but they'll never say a word to you.

And he's right, and we all know he's right, which makes writing this post a little dicey. Because I intend this blog to be a peek into the LG's life, talking about how we're coming up with names is an important part of that. So here goes, without name-dropping.

Michelle gave us an awesome book several months ago with names organized into many categories. I scanned through it, offering up possibilities, which Hunter would then approve or veto. Approved names went on The List.

A sample of vetoes:

"Sounds like a librarian's name. Not that there's anything wrong with librarians. But you see what I mean."

"I'm picturing gum smacking, pencil in the hair, serving food from a rotisserie."

"We're not Russian."

Then the book sat on my bedside table, holding The List, until last week. At which point Hunter scanned through it and I vetoed.

"Name a member of Congress with that name."

"That can be shortened to _______, and I simply will not call our child ______."

"Great, if we're raising a professional football player. Look at us. Do you think we'll raise a professional football player? We'll raise a librarian."

We have a few rules. Our last name is a first name, so it's important that we try to avoid a first name that is a last name, lest our child be last-name-first-ed his or her entire life, from school attendance rolls to junk mail. (The other day, Hunter received an e-mail from a source who has known him for years. The source greeted him with "George!")

Family names are important. All three of my given names are significant, as are his. We don't want to be trendy if we can help it. Though one name that's at the top of one list seems to be gaining in popularity. And finally, I'm not crazy about nicknames, though I recognize that some of that is out of my control.

So this past weekend I went online while Hunter sat with the phone book. We've added a few, eliminated a few others and avoided pelting each other with pancakes during these discussions, which usually happen on Saturday mornings. The girl names are harder than the boy names, but we have plenty of both on The List in case the LG makes a surprise appearance in the next few weeks.

So now, we ruminate. And discuss, tease, cajole and convince. Talking about this with Hunter has been insightful and hilarious. Plus, I know that whatever we choose, everyone will just love it.