Baby Names

I am approaching the 35th week of pregnancy and we still don't have a name for this little girl. I know many parents wait until the baby is born before deciding on a name, but that has never been us. With the other three we have had a name picked out from the time we knew it was a boy or a girl. In fact Mark and I picked out Austin's name when were dating! For some reason it didn't feel "right" to use the name for our first son and that's how he became Garrett. I can't imagine him as Austin because his name fits him so well.

Now we are in search of the perfect name for our second daughter. Anyone that has spoken to me in the past 10 weeks knows this has become somewhat of an obsession for me. As of Sunday night, the big decision is in Mark's hands. Before the game, I made a list of 40 potential names. Mark and I passed the list back and forth, each time taking a name off. When we were down to 6 names, we stopped. When Arizona pulled ahead, I made a bet with Mark that if the cardinals won, I got to pick the final first name from the short list. If the steelers won, Mark would get the same privilege. Needless to say, I lost the bet.

The short list is down to these 6 names: Anna, Ella, Laura, Marissa, Melissa, or Sarah. I like all of them and each has its good points and its bad ones. I just wish Mark would pick one already! I think he's having as much trouble as me in making this decision. Time will tell...........

A few weeks ago, I came up with a list of ways to name a baby. I'd like to share that list.

10 Ways to Name A Child When Pouring Over Baby Name Books And Websites Has Not Worked

1. Actually use the first suggestion by the baby name genie. http://www.babynamegenie.com/

2. Pick a year from 1880 to 2007. Pick a number from 1 to 1000. Look up the name on the Social Security website http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ and use it. Have your spouse pick a year and number and that's the middle name.

3. Go to a bookstore or library, head to the romance novel section. Randomly pick a book off a shelf. For extra fun, get your pregnant self on the floor to reach the bottom shelf. Then call for assistance to get back up. Name your child after the hero/heroine.

4. Next time you are at the grocery store, get what you are craving the most at that very moment. Name your child after the product. There are some good names there!

5. Set up an auction on ebay for rights to name your baby. This takes the pressure off of you. Set the reserve for $1000.

6. Let your older child/children name the baby, even if they want to name him/her Diego or Barbie.

7. Join a message board. Your one and only post will be, "What should I name my baby?" Majority rules.

8. The next time a telemarketer calls, ask him/her for their opinion. Do not let them hang up until they have convinced you of the best choice.

9. Wait until delivery. Name your kid after the nurse/MW/OB/anesthesiologist/manufacturer of medical equipment

10. Find 5 perfect strangers on the street or at the mall. Ask them to write down their favorite name on a piece of paper. To make this task more interesting: Do not bathe for 4 days, wear your pajamas and have a crazed look in your eyes. Do not look at these names. When the baby is born, draw a name out of a hat.