Okay it’s Baby update #2.  I have done quite a few things in the past week and thought of quite a few things that I still need to do.  Um, can anyone say “Name”?  As in Bebe’s name?  It’s actually not that I haven’t put any thought into it, I have.  But historically, naming our children has been, shall we say, challenging?

Chandler Jasmin - Born 25 November 2002, named 27 November… 

Early in my first pregnancy I had a dream one day that I was calling out “Chandler, Chandler”, when around the corner came this beautiful little girl with two little blonde braids, wearing denim overalls and a big crooked grin.  I was smitten and would not be denied my choice of name.  Although Jason took much convincing, thus she was named 2 days later, at the urging of the hospital.  Jason wanted to name her Jasmin, so we chose this as her middle name.   

We didn’t share with our family the names that we were considering because we didn’t want any outside influences - or negative comments about naming a little girl Chandler (remember, there was a rather popular American TV series at the time with a character named Chandler).  We both had agreed that we wanted an unusual name that was unsexed.  My own name is also this way (no it’s not Blondie, actually it’s Chris).  I find that it is advantagous in many ways.  We also wanted a name that would not be easily shorted but a middle name that would be the opposite, both feminine and easily shortened.  I think we were successful.  When gaming, Chandler often registers her name as Jazz. 

We were only planning on having one child, so it wasn’t really about choosing a collection of names for our brood.  But long story short, Jason decided that pregnancy, birth and raising a toddler was so easy that we would be remiss if we did not do it again.  Still smitten by my sweet Chandler, I happily agreed.

Along comes Taylor Nicole - born 23 March 2005 (on her Daddy’s birthday!)  

I really wanted to name her Peyton or Hayden or McKenzie but Jason denied all of thee above.  The name we did finally agree upon (while driving to the hospital) was Taylor, his pick really and it was his bday afterall.   The middle name I came up with was Nicole.  And while Taylor is disappointed that her sister is named after a princess (Princess Jasmine from Alladin, no I did not see that one coming), she often refers to herself as Nicki.

Needless to say, establishing this pattern of unisex first names with feminine middle names, compounded by the fact that both names end in the sound “ler”, has presented us with some additional challenges.  So now what?  Do we continue this?  Do we ignor this?  What would you do?  I actually have the perfect name in mind (I think) but again, it is a struggle with Jason.  I wonder how old she will be before she has a proper name.

So at the moment I still need to…

1. Put up the crib - the same one that I used for Chandler and Taylor
2. Evaluate whether the bedding or mattress needs to be replaced - I want to make her all new bedding
3. Move the changing table out of my office and empty it out - it is currently serving as a tv stand and office organizer
4. Purchase a stroller and carseat
5. Pack for the hospital 
6. Buy all those fun, but unmentionable, things that we girls have to buy to care for ourselves after giving birth
7. Do about 20 loads of baby laundry
8. Buy diapers, wipers and all the baby things needed for the baby changing station, including a countoured changing pad and covers
9. Buy all the bath things  I have purchased the bath accoutrements and a friend offered up her baby bath recliner
10. Register at the hospital
11. Finish my Birth Plan
12. Buy a baby swing and bouncy seat - found a seat but the swing is elusive.  I pick one that I like and then read the reviews and find myself at square one again!
13. Pick up my bassinet from my brother and his wife (this weekend they are coming to So Cal - actually to the OC and we will go meet them and pick this up)
14. Buy a baby monitor  a friend offered up her new monitor that they are not using 
15. Pick a name or shall I say “convince hubby of Bebe’s name” 
16. Register for baby things - did this at Babies R Us, but I think a trip to Target is also in order
17. Find a diaper bag - I think I found one that I like and as a back up, my brother’s wife is also bringing a diaper bag that she is not using
18. Convince Jason that we do not need a guest bedroom, a nursey is more practical
19. Draw up a design for the closet in the GB/Nursery, build it and install it (ha ha!!)

Regarding #18 - when Taylor was born we had my brother, his wife and my nephew living in what is now the office/gym and we had my MIL living in what is now the guest bedroom, so when Taylor came home we had the crib and changing table set up in the master bedroom.  We had her clothing and toys in Chandler’s room with Chandler’s things.  That worked really good because we all co-slept, Daddy and I with Chandler and Taylor (we were in a different house when Chandler was born).  Now the girls still share that room and it is packed.  In their rather large room is a dresser, two twin beds, a nightstand, two desks, two desk chairs and all their toys and playthings, they really need a playroom (I always thought we would blow a hole through the wall the separates the GB and the girls room so that it was a suite).  Anyway, there is very little room for what they have, much less stuff for a new baby, too.  So I think Bebe should have a nursery, because we have the space.  We only have guests a couple times a year (usually Jason’s mom).  And well frankly, in my experience, an empty room invites people to move in.  Which is fine if there are no other options, I am a firm believer that you take care of your family.  But I think it’s silly that a family of 5 should be confined to 2 bedrooms, when there are 4 bedrooms available.  So I contemplated putting the crib and changing table in the master (again) and just using the GB as a playroom and of course taking over the closet.  I also considered moving all the baby stuff into the office/gym, making it an office/gym/nursery.  But currently I have moved the bed in the GB under the window into a “daybed” configuration and set up the crib and changing table in there.  Let me tell you there is not alot of room.  The Queen size bed dominates the room.  I am not sure this is going to be the final location (for the bed???  for the baby things???).  I suppose a twin bed would be the obvious choice, but I am using what I have right now. 

What else?  On Wednesday (last week) I went for an ultra-sound.  They thought Bebe was about 4 lbs and she looks fantastic.  She is so active that they had a hard time getting measurements.  Her heartbeat is strong and she seems very healthy.  I have another ultra-sound scheduled for Monday the 18th and then a Doc appointment on Wednesday the 20th.  Today I had many contractions that forced me to lay down and relax so that they would go away.

My weight is still plus 6 and holding.  I had about 2 weeks were I did not throw up in my mouth every day, but now I am back to feeling ill again.

~Blondie