Now that we know Lil Smudge is a boy, the conversation about baby names has changed — and much more dramatically than I would have guessed.

When it was, "if we have a boy, we’re leaning towards Ulysses Sebastian Arnold; if it’s a girl, we’re leaning towards Mildred Ophelia Myrtle," most people — even family — listened and expressed mild-sounding opinions. (You exceptions know who you are.)

But yesterday, after I told people that we’re having a boy, they immediately asked about names.  I answered, "We aren’t sure yet, but the leading contender is Ulysses Sebastian Arnold." (NOTE: That’s just an example, not the name I actually said!)

EVERYONE had a dramatic reaction, none of them especially good. If they didn’t ask, they offered their opinion, usually with a lot of emotional intensity.

One of my personal weaknesses is that I always want everyone to be happy, and of course, that’s not actually possible. But the possibilities for hurt feelings are insane on this super-emotionally-charged topic. Making it all the more difficult for me to remember that Jill and I get to make this decision, and within days of Lil Smudge being born, everyone will be used to his name, whatever it is.

So where we are now is this:

• We are thinking about a few different possibilities;
• We are still focused on family names;
• We aren’t going to make a final decision until we see the little guy. What if he doesn’t look like a Ulysses Sebastian Arnold? He might look more like a Duane August Dewey. Or a LaFayette Oliver Lester.

Wish us luck!