Naming

I never imagined that choosing names for my children would be so difficult. We didn't choose LB's name till the final days... but we did have a name for her before she was born.

We are having NO luck with agreeing on a boy name. A name which ideally won't be TOO common (like Bob or Joe), and not too odd, be pronounceable in English AND Polish (the tough part) or at least have a Polish version.

Before LB was born, we had Lukasz chosen for a boy. Lucas, but spelled the Polish way. (And in Polish it sounds like WOO-cash, which I don't particularly like.) Now I'm leaning towards James because it's always been my favourite boy name, but that would mean that the short-form of LB's name and his name would be the same as Harry Potter's parents. Jakob is also a possibility... it's the closest name to James in Polish. But the short-form of it is Kuba... which to me is something you'd name a dog.

So, help me out. Send me any and all boy names you like, or think might work for us, or whatever.

To help you out, here are a few of the names we've already nixed:

• Ezekiel
• Zenon
• Zachary
• Helmut
• Heinrich
• Oswald
• Casper
• Boris
• Bernard
  

Pondering gender

Even though I feel anxiety each minute of the day about whether or not things are ok with our new little one (need to come up with a nickname...hmm... maybe after the ultrasound), just now I looked up some old tests I took for fun to guess the gender. I do feel a pressure to have a boy since we have a daughter. I guess I would like to have both, but ultimately it's most important that the baby is healthy, so that's what I'm focusing on right now. I know I'm closing in on the time where the baby's gender will develop... and I'm really trying not to think about it.

I just did the ring test with my wedding ring and it definitely moved in circles. That means a boy.

Here's another test I took earlier with LB. I think it's more for later on but t here are some things I can answer. Bold means yes.

It's a boy if:

• You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the extra weight out front
• Your belly looks like a basketball
• Your areolas have darkened considerably
• You are carrying low
• You are craving salty or sour foods
• You are craving protein -- meats and cheese
• Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
• The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
• Your hands are very dry
• Your pillow faces north when you sleep
• Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
• Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
• Your urine is bright yellow in color
• Your nose is spreading
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles
• You are having headaches
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number

It's a girl if:

• You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
• Your left breast is larger than your right breast
• Your hair develops red highlights
• You are carrying high
• Your belly looks like a watermelon
• You are craving sweets
• You are craving fruit
• You crave orange juice
• You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
• You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
• Your face breaks out more than usual
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
• Your breasts have really blossomed!
• Your pillow faces south when you sleep
• Your urine is a dull yellow color
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number

Anyone have any ideas or kicks in the rear for me on not hoping too hard for one gender over the other? And for ignoring this nagging feeling of competition between me and my SIL on who will birth the first grandson?

personality quiz

I was cruising moi's blog and found this quiz buried in the archives. There are nine squares and you the one that appeals most to you in colour and form. I picked the bottom middle one, and my results were:

DreamyRomanticEmotional

You are a very sensitive person. You refuse to view things only from a sober, rational standpoint.

You listen to your feelings. It is important for you to have dreams in life.

You reject people who scorn romanticism and are guided only by rationality.

You refuse to let anything confine the rich variety of your moods and emotions.

I think it's pretty accurate.