What's in a name?

All my students want to name my baby. I don't even know the sex yet, and they want to name my baby.
Currently ranking at the top of the "stupid question list" is...
"If you had to name your baby after a body part, what would you name it?"

Most students think that they're being clever and inform me that my baby will be named after them. Trayson told me several times that I should do this, apparently hoping that nagging will result in the answer, "FINE! Just leave me alone!"

Kevin wants to name my baby "Optimus Prime". He thinks this will ensure my baby's future popularity. Everyone will love a kid named Optimus Prime. Girl or boy. Considering the current associations that Optimus Prime has, I don't want a kid associated with a poorly written Shia LaBouef movie.

I have recently noticed a trend in names ending with the "uh" sound. My entire 4th period class has names ending with the letter 'a'. When I call roll it sounds like I have the hiccups.

I had a student with a sister named "Abcde" (pronounced "ab-si-dee") and she told me, "Un-uh, Miss, don't you dare take that name. We got it first."

Whenever I have the "you should name your baby this" conversation with my students, they are shocked that I haven't picked one out yet. I'm currently in my 4th month. And don't they know... My husband's favorite past time is coming up with names.

So if our kid is named "Avery Fine Jackson" or "Schwaawawawawa" (pronounced as you would make the sound effect of a spring), you know who to blame.

Animal

Amaya and I were having a fairly pleasant morning until I found her licking the mop. The one I had just been cleaning with. Yes.

We’ve been hanging out with her cousins, Taj and Eden. Eden is a total lady. She even talks quietly. Jill told me that she only will wear skirts, and I thought, “Hmmm. I don’t think Amaya has clothes preferences, that much anyway.” Next morning I try to put a skirt on her.

“JEANS! I WANT ONLY JEANS!” Ensue complete tantrum.

I have become hyper aware of Amaya’s loud persona. She yells when she wants something, when she’s having fun, or when she wakes up in the morning. All the time. We tell her to whisper (so Jake or I can still sleep while the other is getting her breakfast) and the first 3 words of her sentence start that way, until they crescendo, as in, “I would like soME GRANOLA PLEASE!”

For church she gets dressed up, and cries when we brush her hair. Although we do the hair brushing every morning, by about three o’clock she looks like a woman of the wild. I often find myself getting a whiff of her afternoon sweat and sticky and reeling a little.

We took the kids to the zoo a week ago and I decided that my animal is still pretty cute. And loud. And ravenous. She ate most of Jill’s snack bag.

 

Lil’ Mama

I’ve been a really bad mama lately, but Amaya is the best mama.

If you are her baby, as I always am when we play, she makes you eggs. She even takes the pickles out if you don’t like them. She doesn’t let you have dessert before dinner even if you ask nicely. And she always tells you that you’re smart and pretty.

Then she tucks you in for bed and kisses you good night, waits 10 seconds, and wakes you up to get ready for the day (and NO, you cannot sleep in).

I hope little mamas can be as nice as big sisters.