Let's have a chat, shall we?

One thing you may not know about me:

I adore talking about names.

It's a huge passion of mine, one I'll explore in great depths for vast amounts of time if given the chance.  I don't have to be pregnant or really even know anyone who is, I'll talk your ear off regardless.  There's actually a name for crazies like me: a name enthusiast.  Now that I am currently (all too) heavy with child, it's tottering between a healthy level of infatuation and an unhealthy obsession.  When I was stuck in the house with my fellow-name-enthusiasts sister and mother during a blizzard this winter (gotta love that northern Indiana snow), we seriously talked about baby names for three days straight with only this book to keep us going (which is, hands down, my very favorite baby name book ever). 

Anyway, the point is, I love taking baby names...but, unfortunately, my husband does not. at all.  So, that's where you come in, dear readers.  I do so want to hear all about the names you love or abhor or the ones that left you just plain confused.  I especially want to hear about names that you adore but are unable to use for one reason or another (stubborn husband, anyone?).  Those are the ones people are often most passionate about.  I also want to know your naming style.  I promise you that you have one, you just might have to think about it for a bit.  Anyway, help a poor name conversation-deprived pregnant girl out, won't you.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

First off, I have a somewhat of a vintage, yet recognizable naming style.  This is obvious by my three oh-so-lovely offspring.  My son, Ezra Emil, and my two daughters, Georgia Marie and Scarlett Caroline.  *sigh*  I do so love their names.  As is obvious, their names are definitely on the older side of things (or, as some might imply, the dusty/moldy/old people side of things :P), but I love them regardless.

As for names I love: Be warned, these names are only the tip of the iceberg.  I could go on and on in this one category.  Anyway, for girls, I love Cecilia, Delia, Tallulah (my husband staunchly refuses to even consider that one), Vera, Lucy, and Virginia (fear of high school teasing combined with the already-used state name rules that one out)...and Cherry.  I know, I know, that last one is a little out there, but I've loved it since the first time I read The Outsiders in 8th grade English class. Boys are a harder for me as I'm just pickier with them for some reason.  Regardless, for boys, I adore the names Theron (hubby insists it sounds too girly...an issue he has with a good chunk of the names I like), Archer, Emmett, Bennett, Forrest, and Gideon.

abhor: Mostly, I hate any names that are obviously kre8tiv.  They're like a really awkward teenager who is just trying too darn hard to be unique and mysterious.  gag.  I also am not a fan of names that hit their peak in the mid-80s.  I guess I just don't get why people would name their child something that they (the parent) heard 50 million times all through grade school.  So...you name your daughter Brittany or son Jason and I might raise my eyebrows a bit.  That's totally just me, though. (although, I suppose I did use the middle name Marie for my eldest daughter.  In defense, I plead the Family Name excuse.)

confused by:   Here's a good example for y'all...I know someone who knows someone who will be naming their next daughter Kimarie.  yep, that would be a completely made up name and not a particularly attractive one at that.  Is that petty of me to say?  c'est la vie.  I just don't get it.  I have full respect for different naming styles.  I promise do.  I realize some people are all nature-y, some love meaning-based names, etc...but I just don't get a completely made-up name.  According to my source, this name is the combination of 2 different names which, frankly, just kind of makes me roll my eyes.  Refer back to previous intentionally mysterious teenager comment.

Well, it's nearly eleven and I still need to wind down before I can go to sleep (blogging makes my brain wake up, for some reason...although the frozen cookie dough probably didn't help much either), so it's time for me to bid y'all adieu.

Don't forget to comment! (or else this post was, frankly, a little pointless)

ps-in case you haven't yet discovered it, this is one of my very favorite websites on the planet.  I swear if naming had a nirvana, this would be it.

Baby Name Wizard

The Power of the Vacuum

Remember how my son has a hearing loss? Well, it wasn't till recently that he could hear the vacuum, at least not well. Now whenever he hears it, it terrifies him.

So, when he was trying to sneak into the cookies today in the kitchen after I told him not to and he had already had TWO, I quickly plugged in the vacuum.

I really did need to vacuum the rug in the living room... the fact that it sent him running for cover in his bedroom and therefore leaving the cookies behind was just a bonus.

Honest.

Marriage and Kids

Because this blog nailed it on the head for me, I couldn't NOT share it.

Click here: Marriage with Toddlers

It's a little lengthy but well worth the read. Especially if you are like me and wondering what happened to your marriage after kids...

Technology and Teachers

Long story short, it has recently come to my attention that texting, Facebooking, tweeting, and other such social networking is being used as a means of communication between teachers and students.

I happen to disagree with this method. In fact, I'm quite surprised how strongly I feel about this. Three short years ago I remember being in school and explaining to my professors (mainly the Grad students) that they could contact me by email, but I did not text. You can imagine the horror upon their faces that I would refuse to text.

I especially disagree with this method concerning high school students. If you have something to say to my high school student you can do so by calling the family phone, emailing them through a school account, or the traditional send-a-letter home. There is a certain professionalism that needs to be held between students and teachers.

You are the teacher, a symbol of authority and a mentor to young minds. You are not their best friend. There is no need to be friends with them on Facebook, text them messages concerning homework assignments, or let them follow your Tweets of what you are eating for dinner. In fact, I as a mother, would not believe my child if they said that a teacher had Tweeted no homework for the evening and you can better believe that I will not let my child give out their personal cell phone numbers, that is assuming I let them have a cell phone.

I don't know how many states have laws or policies concerning things like this but I can tell from news stories and comments from friends who are now professors/teachers that this is becoming a valid problem . Am I turning into a stick-in-the-mud? Maybe, but I really believe the teacher-student relationship is one relationship that should not be relaxed due to technology.