The Name Game

I tend to be a little hippie-dippie about our kids' names. Firstly, I don't commit to a name until the baby is born. We always narrow our choices down to two, with one being "The Name" and the other being a back-up. Both Eli and Syd ended up with the back-up name because, with both, the moment I heard their cry that was the name that came to my mind. With Eli I just took it as a sign, but with Syd I was completely dumbstruck. We REALLY thought she'd be a Teagan, and yet she just wasn't. I was so sure that after we got home I researched how to change her name, assuming I'd made a horrible mistake. And now, she is so awesomely Sydney Sunshine.

So with Baby Waldo, C and I set about throwing out various names as soon as we found out she was a she. We talked about family names, since both Syd and Eli share a name with one of us. We threw out some old favorites that have been in the running since before Eli was born. And then one day while I was making dinner it came to me. "The Name" It fits so perfectly that I have to remind myself not to refer to her by that name. For months now we haven't come up with anything that seems like even a good back-up, which kind of worries me because what if this isn't her name? (And to reiterate. Chiconky pregnant=Chiconky crazy and neurotic)

So today C came out of our bedroom and handed me a napkin with writing on it. On closer inspection, I saw several names. Specifically, girl names. There were at least five full names. Then he'd ranked them. As I looked at it, I realized that he'd given all five Syd's middle name. Curious. I kept looking and saw that Sydney Cheyne was ranked #2. This was his list from when we were pregnant with Syd, and he'd found it in the baby name book that I keep packed with my maternity clothes! Want to know what #1 was? Baby Waldo's name. I don't even remember considering it, and yet, at some point it was a top pick. I wanted to post a picture, but I can't figure out how to "anonymize" it, so you'll just have to take my word for it. I'm thinking that it's a sign. What do you think? And do we dare go to the hospital without a back-up?