What's In a Name?

It is no secret (well at least with all of you) that until now I have struggled with coming to terms with this big life changing event known as my pregnancy. Being with child came on so unexpectedly it literally took the ground out from under me and now I find myself slowly regaining the balance I did not know I was taking for granted. After completing my first trimester and half of my second trimester in secret, in rural Peru, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I am now in the U.S. and free to embrace my pregnancy. Up until now being pregnant has been an exercise in endurance and sacrifice with the main goal being survival. Well I have survived so far and now it is time to just be. To just be fat, and pregnant, and happy, and then give birth to a healthy and beautiful baby boy. Oh yeah- for those of you who did not know, I just found out I am having a boy! Which leads me to the title of this post. What's in a name?

I feel like choosing a name is my first real test as a mom. So much of this child's personality is riding on this. I have to pick a name that has meaning, carries power, while making sure it doesn't rhyme with anything obscene,a name my mother can pronounce, and a name I actually like. Yeesh. I've joked around about creating a google doc so my loved ones can submit their suggestions, but at the end of the day I know this is a choice that only I must make. Until then I will remain hyper vigilant to the names I encounter in hopes that one feels right- sometimes I ask the baby- what are you meant to be named? For now he remains silent. Maybe he doesn't know, or doesn't want to say, or maybe like W.C. Fields he knows that I should just calm down because in life “It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.” that really matters.