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05/09/2008
Little Boy what now?
Not long before Charlie was born, I issued a manifesto, a list of promises I have mostly managed thus far to keep. No Lunchables? Check. Ridiculous getups? Check. No full frontal nudity on display? Check, although I do have a single photo of him sashaying around the back yard, naked but for his Crocs, a pair of giant rubber oven mitts, and a seraphic whole-face smile. (I have named the picture blackmail.jpg, and I have backups in two separate places. Bring on the teenage years. I am fully prepared to fight dirty.)
I've spent a lot of time marveling at how different this pregnancy has been, from its earliest days onward. This time, instead of thinking to a baby I haven't yet met, I hold Charlie close and make him more silent promises, a lot more complicated and even more heartfelt. Knowing him now, I'm much less articulate, and sometimes I count on my body — the way I persist in roughhousing with him, unwieldy midsection notwithstanding; the fact that I still carry him now and then, just because I feel like it — to tell him what's hard to say. I think he is listening. He hears me. "Mama, I always want you to hold me," he tells me, as I hoist him with some effort. I will is what my grunt says.
Charlie is perfectly delighted. We told him several weeks ago that this summer he'd have a baby brother. He gets it, as much as a three-year-old can. "He's growing in your belly," he says, repeating what we've told him. "He'll come out when he's big enough." And not a moment sooner, I think, smiling and nodding my encouragement. And then, inevitably, "Where will he come out?"
Why, the hospital, of course! Now! Who wants something delicious? A little something I like to call...a Lunchable?
He's taking this all quite seriously. He is full of plans. This time around, he's the one making promises.
"I will sing our baby brother some lullabyes to help him get to sleep," he says, and proceeds to demonstrate. [Deep breath, bellowing.] "JOHHHHHHN JACOB JINGLEHEIMER SCHMIDT! His name is myyy name toooooooo!"
"I would like to go to the toy store," he casually mentions as we pass. When I tell him that we're not buying any toys for him today, he looks genuinely aggrieved. "But for our baby."
In the middle of the evening routine, he declares, "My baby brother can share my bathtub." Rinsing him, I mention that we have a bathtub that's just the right size for a baby. "But I will wash his mighty hams." Three and a half years in, apparently I am in no hurry to teach him they're called thighs.
"I will name the baby...Isaac."
"I will name the baby...Little Boy Blue."
"I will name the baby...Natalie." Because I guess I'm old school when it comes to gender identification, I gently opine that Natalie is usually a girl's name, and he gives me a steely look, then speaks as if I were the three-year-old and he a Prussian schoolmaster unimpressed with my unruliness. "The baby...will be named...Natalie."
"My baby brother can share my big-boy bed." I suggest that a baby might need to be more securely contained. "I'll teach him how to sleep in it without falling out." I explain that babies don't understand such things, not right away. "Mama, he'll want to be near me." And of course I tell him he's right. Of course baby Natalie will.
Posted by Julie at 11:15 AM in Charles in charge, Jesus gay, I'm pregnant. | Permalink
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Comments (91)
Truly a delightful post!! Charlie is going to be the best big brother . . . Natalie's a lucky boy-to-be!
Posted by: Stacey at May 9, 2008 11:22:24 AM
Batman and Natalie...sounds perfect.
Posted by: Julia at May 9, 2008 11:22:47 AM
Giant rubber oven mitts?! Any chance of a tastefully cropped peek?
Everything here that can feasibly be crossed for Lil Boy Blue making 40 weeks is tightly crossed. Blood-stoppingly so.
Posted by: Ann Baylis at May 9, 2008 11:31:18 AM
Awww how sweet! I was a terrible big sister so it has to be testament to you that he's dealing with this so well!
Posted by: Emily at May 9, 2008 11:33:21 AM
Aww, sweet boy! P suckered me into the "buying my baby brother a toy" thing also. Thankfully, his baby brother is 18 months old and can actually play with them already. Then again, I know he would have done the same thing if we'd gotten pregnant...and I still would have been suckered in.
Posted by: Erin at May 9, 2008 11:35:20 AM
Aw...this post made me tear up a little. So sweet.
Posted by: birdie at May 9, 2008 11:37:07 AM
I am in exactly the same position as you right now, 3 1/2 year old boy, baby on the way. My boy is an aggressive rough-houser, but he has found stores of tenderness for the baby. He insists her name is Ashley and is planning to potty-train her.
I also find myself thinking about how this is going to change my son's life far more than I think about how it will change my own. My hospital stay will be the first time I'm away from my son overnight (after 3 years, I know! I don't know how it happened).
Posted by: kdblya at May 9, 2008 11:44:39 AM
Cute overload!
Posted by: Mollie at May 9, 2008 11:49:48 AM
I will say that when I returned home with Live Baby #2, Live Baby #1 came barrelling down the stairs with the official present for the baby in hand. So it's not just a ploy.
Also, I hope Charlie will be passing on fashion tips as well as toys.
Posted by: Slim at May 9, 2008 11:57:54 AM
I love that you are writing more about Natalie and Charlie and pregnancy... it is nice.
Posted by: Charlise at May 9, 2008 12:12:23 PM
"But for our baby."
This, I admit, is where I started to get a little teary. Oh, Charlie! I hate to say it, but I don't think I will love any baby as much as I have come to love Charlie, except perhaps my own lil guy or gal.
Posted by: Sarah at May 9, 2008 12:15:27 PM
This is exactly how my son reacted to news of his impending baby brother. Except that he was convinced that the baby would be coming from my belly button.
Posted by: Becky at May 9, 2008 12:15:31 PM
I'm thinking you should do what people who give boys' names to girls do. Natalie as a first name. And something masculine as his middle name.
How does "Natalie Michael" strike you?
~A~
Posted by: Catharine at May 9, 2008 12:18:05 PM
This is all so sweet. Hubby and I have a list of promises for our little boy so long that it will take a lifetime to fullfill them all.
Posted by: sarah at May 9, 2008 12:25:10 PM
OMG....sweetest thing ever !
Posted by: Valleri at May 9, 2008 12:31:07 PM
Charlie will be the bestest, mostest loving big brother ever. At least until Baby Natalie starts to locomote on his own....and "Mommy he's TOUCHING ME!" and can "Mommy he's TOUCHING MY STUFF!". At that point I found the relative peace in my house disintegrated somewhat. Alot. Okay, totally.
Oh and has any one warned you yet that one thing that multiplies exponentially with two sweet babies is noise? Buy some ear plugs, I'm just sayin'......
Keeping my fingers crossed for 8/8/08!
Posted by: Rachel at May 9, 2008 12:38:17 PM
You should absolutely name the kid Natalie and just point to Charlie when anyone asks where you came up with the name. Hilarious! (Or you could go with Nathan and let Charlie call him Nat.)
Posted by: Ewokmama at May 9, 2008 12:38:17 PM
I'm still carrying around my daughter, much to the disapproval of doctors and husbands. But I can't help it. I know I'll have to stop for awhile after this one comes and I am worried about that for some very odd reason. Like she's going to break up with me or something.
But she is looking at her future brother in the same light as your son does. And it makes me weep at times. I'm so glad I'm able to give her this. And hope she's nicer to him than I was to my own brother who I may have dressed in MC Hammer pants on occasion.
Posted by: Zoot at May 9, 2008 12:40:05 PM
oh be still my beating heart, he is so cute!
i have a little boy named Isaac...it's a wonderful, wonderful name and totally suits him.
Posted by: Sarah at May 9, 2008 12:44:25 PM
Ha, I don't mind Isaac at all — I just have no idea where Charlie picked it up!
*double shooty*
Posted by: Julie at May 9, 2008 12:52:36 PM
When my daughter was about 2 1/2, she began politely asking for a baby brother named Joseph. She even asked the Santa at our church's Christmas brunch for one (Santa looked a bit uncomfortable, and I just shrugged. I wanted one too, it just wasn't happening...) She told her preschool teacher several times that she was having a baby brother named Joseph. I always had to explain to her teaacher "not yet, still hoping...". Finally, when she was almost 5, we found out baby#2 was on the way. She immediately began calling the baby Joseph. When we found out he was a boy, we knew we had to name him Joseph. I was relieved that our daughter took it upon herself to name her brother, as my husband and I had many heated discussions about what to name her if she were a boy. He - Sherman. Me- Anything but Sherman. (sorry to any Sherman fans out there.) As the last trimester came, after almost 3 years of calling her brother to be Joseph, she abruptly chnaged her mind - he was to be called Phoebus (Feebus?? - no clue) she decreed. What about Joseph? we asked. She shrugged. We finally talked her back in to Joseph, and occasionally tease about Feebus/Phoebus - whoever he is.
Posted by: Kelly at May 9, 2008 12:52:56 PM
Ha! That last paragraph reminded me of when I was expecting my little sister. At three and a half I was sure the new baby would love to be with me and want to play with me. Then the actual kid arrived. I have a very vivid memory of my mom sitting me down in the armchair and placing the baby in my arms. All was well until she left the room to get the camera. It was then that my baby sister started to scream bloody murder. Mom took the picture anyway, with me smiling down at my baby sister's red, contorted face. I love that picture.
Posted by: Elizabeth at May 9, 2008 12:53:47 PM
Oh....Charlie is melting my heart!!!!
I am in tears. Such a beautiful little snapshot of a full of heart little boy opening his heart to hope and love.
Gorgeous.
Posted by: Spicy Sister at May 9, 2008 12:54:26 PM
Isaac is totally our potential boy's name, and whenever we say that we do the double-handed finger point ala Tim Lange. No baby of either sex yet, alas. We did tell his sister that it's off limits for her son who is due in July.
Posted by: Lara at May 9, 2008 12:58:52 PM
That just made me all kinds of squishy! I heart Charlie.
Posted by: Shell at May 9, 2008 1:05:31 PM
Awwwwwww. I've been thinking a lot lately about whether it's worth the hassle/expense of adopting a 2nd child. (Doesn't that sound awful? But you know what I mean.) We've thought we might be happy with just one. But this post gives me pause...maybe Sienna would like the opportunity to be a big sister someday. :)
Posted by: Jenny at May 9, 2008 1:11:56 PM
Awww. I was two when my little sister was born. When my mom was pregnant, my parents asked me what we should name the baby if it was a girl. I said "Beeps." And if it was a boy? Also Beeps. Yeah, I don't know either. I had also named our cat Fipps. I still sometimes call my sister Beeps. (My parents named her Ellen. Clearly they had no imagination.)
Posted by: tadpoledrain at May 9, 2008 1:13:40 PM
Wow, this post made me tear up a little. God. Charlie's going to be such a great big brother, I can't wait until you start posting about their interactions!
Posted by: Anne at May 9, 2008 1:25:12 PM
Totally loving Natalie as a tadpole-not-yet-born name. Very cute. Very similiar to Gavin and his 3.5 year old reaction to a little-sister-to-be... although he never asked HOW the baby would get out of my belly. (Good thing for him too because I'd have told him. Hey, if he's old enough to ask, he's old enough to know.)
Posted by: Robyn at May 9, 2008 1:27:14 PM
Awwww Charlie! I did some similar fancy footwork with my then-three-year-old when we talked about how the baby would get out of my belly. I got some great advice (from my OBGYN, no less!)--THEY DO NOT NEED TO KNOW THE VEE-WORD OR THE PARTICULARS OF HOW THE BABY GETS OUT. It will blow their tiny minds and you will take the Vee-word to the grocery store, and to visit elderly relatives, and to nursery school...I know not everyone will agree with my on this one, but my kid was a repeater, and I had no desire to hear the vee-word THAT MANY TIMES. Usually they aren't as interested as you might think--when my kid asked how the baby would be getting OUT of my belly I said "I will go to the hospital and Dr. OBYGN will help me get the baby out and THEN DADDY WILL BRING YOU TO SEE THE BABY! WON'T THAT BE COOL???" True but not overly so, and ending on a nice distracting redirect (NEW SIBLING! WHOOHOO!"). It even worked a year later when the oops-really-should've-gotten-the-labwork post-vasectomy bonus baby showed up and the oldest was four and a half. They really aren't THAT interested (although if Charlie is then BEST OF LUCK WITH THAT). My seven-year-old still isn't clear on how babies escape the female body and I suppose I'm going to have to cover that at some point before the child is old enough to reproduce, but until then I'm thrilled to keep dodging!
Posted by: Eliza at May 9, 2008 1:37:28 PM
You are such an amazing and entertaining writer!
Posted by: Sarah at May 9, 2008 1:39:47 PM
Oh and before we knew the gender of number two we asked the eldest whether they wanted a baby brother or a baby sister. The child expressed a preference, and then we went for the big ultrasound and it turned out that that was what we were having. We excitedly relayed this to the three-year-old, who tipped their head back, HOWLED, and said "I CHANGED MY MIIIIIIIIND!!!" Whoops. I have a similar policy on full-frontal-nudity baby pictures, but also have my one set of blackmail pictures of my three-year-old buck-naked and holding both sides of my double breast-pump to their bony little chest. Go ahead, kid. Ding my car when you're seventeen. MAKE MY DAY.
Posted by: Eliza at May 9, 2008 1:43:18 PM
My nine month old and three year old are just starting to really connect. They smile at each other and giggle together. I left the room together for a moment one day, and the three year old had hidden himself and his brother under a blanket. "Where are we?" he asked, when I came back in. It warms my heart like nothing ever has.
Posted by: Jessica at May 9, 2008 2:07:13 PM
our 3 year old has taken ownership of our new baby. wanna HOLD her! need her NOW! MY baby sisserrrrrrr! as he collapses into tears because he can't hold her right now because she's sleeping / eating / screaming her head off. if only he wasn't so easily distractable and would pay more attention to holding her than to say, Bob the Builder, it'd be pretty nice.
I too have a small collection of blackmail / prom night pictures. I think they're a must have, really.
Posted by: sarah at May 9, 2008 2:07:40 PM
Bless that little Charlie boy. He's gonna be one heckuva big brother.
Posted by: silene at May 9, 2008 2:12:53 PM
Awww. So sweet.
Posted by: Kat with a K at May 9, 2008 2:35:02 PM
Oh, and I meant to say - I tried to convince my parents to name my little brother Christopher, but they wouldn't. But my ex-boyfriend was named by his then-three-year-old brother.
Posted by: Kat with a K at May 9, 2008 2:37:19 PM
Oh Julie, you are the best blogger EVER. You are so funny and warm and wonderful and yet also an amazing person and mother. It's all of the fun without any of the Schadenfreude. And being just a little preggo myself, these posts never fail to make me sniffle. Thank you for updating!!!
Posted by: June at May 9, 2008 2:40:29 PM
My friend was four when his parents asked him to name his baby brother. He picked Colin, from The Secret Garden. He was quite the reader; they're just lucky he didn't pick Tintin.
Posted by: Jane at May 9, 2008 2:46:38 PM
That photo = priceless!
Posted by: WendyB at May 9, 2008 2:51:55 PM
My then-five-year-old sister's vote for our younger sister's name was Peter Pan. My parents told her they didn't think it was a very feminine name but she was unconvinced.
Posted by: niz at May 9, 2008 2:53:27 PM
I swear to god your ability to make me laugh through tears will keep me checking for a new blog 18 times a day even through the weeks you hibernate. Thank you so much, I really...I mean really, needed this today.
Posted by: Kelly at May 9, 2008 2:54:03 PM
My daughter decided to name our baby "Maria Sanchez". And in NO way is Maria Sanchez a bad name, but it hardly fit our blond blue-eyed baby girl.
Posted by: Lisa at May 9, 2008 2:55:12 PM
At least you have real names coming out. My almost four-year old wants to all his yet-to-be-born baby sister "Gas Station." He's serious.
Posted by: MamaChristy at May 9, 2008 3:29:51 PM
My daughter LOVED the book "When You Were Inside Mommy" and I loved that it explained things without cutesy terms, but using the correct words in the right places without being too specific.
She learned about the umbilical cord but it said the baby would come out of an opening that can stretch wide to let a baby through (ie no specific vaginal or caesarean birth reference - can go either way).
It was one of her favorites while I was pregnant, and since the focus was on when SHE was inside it was a way to address the new baby but still keep some focus on her.
Granted, it doesn't address what happens when you have to have an emergency csection due to hellp and major danger to mom and baby, but hey - nothing is perfect. ;)
Posted by: Mandy at May 9, 2008 3:40:05 PM
Until I had my second child I had no idea how nurturing and gentle little boys could be. My first child (a boy) was so loving and caring towards his little sister that at times it just made me weepy to see.
Your little cuy certainly sounds like he's something special. "Natalie" sure is lucky to be getting such a big brother.
Posted by: Jen @problem girl at May 9, 2008 3:59:01 PM
Aw. I just love the promises and excitement of an 'expecting' sibling.
You will love seeing them interact. Probably not in a few years, once they start fighting and trying to knock each other out any chance they get, but the lovey moments are priceless.
Posted by: TheHMC at May 9, 2008 4:18:50 PM
Hi Eliza... Um, I think Cesarian Section starts with a C, not a V.
Posted by: Robyn at May 9, 2008 4:45:07 PM
damn you for making me cry when i have too much work to do.
i know all those silent promises made, before and after they're born. spent a long time cuddling my 2 year old last night, telling him over and over that mama will love him forever and thinking in my head that I hope that's enough armor to get him thru.
have had to become at peace that no more children for us. i've tried to tell myself an only child can have a lot. but your post today makes me ache for all that he *could* have. its a good ache -- enjoy your family.
Posted by: becky at May 9, 2008 4:59:43 PM
Charlie wants to name the baby after me? (looks around in disbelief, pointing at chest)
Awww, thanks kid! I'm honored!
Would it pursuade him at all to tell him that Nathaniel is the masculine form of my/the baby's name?
Charlie and Nate - great combo in my book!
Posted by: Natalee at May 9, 2008 5:01:11 PM
Wow, and here I thought vagina started with a v, not c.
Posted by: Alexis at May 9, 2008 5:18:31 PM
So, I imagine this is just what Michelle Duggar is doing right now as she is expecting her 18th due on New Year's. I'm sure she is sitting in the dark, talking to her 9-month old, promising to name the new baby something that starts with J like Jatalie.
Posted by: SarcastiCarrie at May 9, 2008 5:29:19 PM
So sweet!!
Here's to best buds already!
Posted by: Angela at May 9, 2008 5:40:16 PM
Delurking for something I actually have experience with:
My sister is four years younger than I and I was absolutely set at naming her "Tree-Hallow."
"But tree-hallows are nice and they give birds and squirels a place to live and nobody appreciates them!"
My parents weren't convinced but I held onto hope until she was born and the birth certificate made out with the name of an unknown great aunt. I was disappointed, but too excited she was there to mind too much.
Funny thing though, when she was a bit older she insisted she was going to grow to be "ten feet tall! Like a tree!" and talked about having been a tree once. Maybe I was right. So were my parents.
Posted by: Aurora at May 9, 2008 5:49:06 PM
I love to see my kids show love for one another. Usually it's my daughter trying to give my son a hug right before he hits her, but sometimes he surprises me by walking right up to her, giving her a huge hug and saying, "I yove you, Sage."
I have an aquaintance who told her 5-year-old daughter she could pick their second daughter's middle name. She chose "Pixiesparkle." Which it turns out wasn't so appropriate because the ultrasound was wrong and she was a boy (Guess I'm old school about names too).
Posted by: Carol at May 9, 2008 6:10:53 PM
Lordy, could Charlie be cuter? I don't think so.
Posted by: kristylynne at May 9, 2008 6:52:47 PM
Thank you for sharing your joys!
Posted by: Janice at May 9, 2008 7:20:27 PM
Awww... so cute. I love the "mighty hams"... I don't think I'd be in a rush to tell him any different, either.
hang in there Baby Natalie/ Nate!!
Posted by: mfk at May 9, 2008 8:57:39 PM
So very sweet...
May it all come through for you in good time. Well, all except the Natalie part.
My daughter asks, every couple of days if her brother is big enough to come out, or tries to interpret his kicks as an escape attempt. I get her desire to bail her brother out while she is sure he has a pulse, but it breaks my heart a little to tell her that no, he is not ready, can't breathe, won't be ready for a few months yet.
Charlie is going to rock this big brother thing. All the way.
Posted by: JuliaKB at May 9, 2008 9:16:57 PM
The Big Brother of the Year award goes to...
I can't wait to read about the "Charlie and 'Natalie'" stories!
You have an incredible little boy on your hands!
Posted by: Lauren at May 9, 2008 9:28:21 PM
While my sister was pregnant with #2, her 2-year-old eventually grasped the idea that there was a baby in there, and when he asked how the baby would come out, she told him that she'd have to push it out. When she went into labor, laying in the bathtub grunting and groaning while DH packed the car, my nephew stayed loyally by her side, coaching her, "Puuuush, mama! Puuuuuush that baby out!"
Posted by: Natalie W at May 9, 2008 10:52:32 PM
I, too, have a blackmail picture. It is of our oldest in an elf costume/onesie thing-complete with hat. It will be unveiled next month at his grad party.
I love the name Natalie.
Posted by: Sheri at May 10, 2008 12:05:40 AM
Awww... too cute for words!
Posted by: Suki at May 10, 2008 12:35:54 AM
♥♥♥ mighty hams!! ♥♥♥
LOL at PP's "Jatalie"!!!
Posted by: at May 10, 2008 12:44:48 AM
My son was 4yrs old when I was pregnant with my daughter. Before we knew we were having a girl he would tell me to pray and ask Jesus for a baby sister because he did not want a brother. He was also determined that her name would be Flower. Obviously someone was listening as he has a sister now, but her name is not Flower, instead we bought a babydoll and named her Flower. Son is 15yrs old now and we still have Flower....and 10yr old sister.
Posted by: Kerry at May 10, 2008 1:15:01 AM
Charlie is a dream :) I can't get over how funny and articulate he is, and for lack of a better word...deep.
The reaction I get from my boys so far has been "Baby?....NO!" Along with an occasional wack or poke to the belly. Granted, they are a year and a day younger than Charlie, but they save most of their communicative goodies for each other. I hope this baby helps break them up a little, instead of turning them more towards each other. Hmmm.... I think it's time to put them in daycare.
Natalie is a pretty name. I would steal it, but the girl naming is left to my husband, and I think he has already made his choice. (from an approved list, though, of course)
Posted by: Chickenpig at May 10, 2008 8:55:19 AM
My 3 yr old nephew was all set to name his baby sister Kohlrabi. Thankfully my brother had some sense and they named her Madeline.
Charlie is supa, supa cute.
Posted by: django's mommy at May 10, 2008 9:35:43 AM
Ha! How's the baby coming out? I could send MY 3 yr old over, she's got the answers...how'd the baby get in mommy's belly? "Daddy put it in there. I think with his tools. I think he used a sharp one. You need a sharp one to get the baby in there." I'll leave it there....
Posted by: Shannon at May 10, 2008 4:24:23 PM
Our experiences are once again in parallel - I have the 3 year old Natalie (born very close to Batman's original due date) and we're expecting our second "miracle" in about 7 weeks - this time a little boy. We are trying to get Natalie used to the idea of a baby brother but I fear she will be sorely disappointed in the infant eat, sleep, poop routine 24/7. Teaching him to hop like a frog, climb on furniture and eat chocolate ice cream sounds so much more fun! She is insisting we name the baby "Elizabeth" which I find hilarious and my husband finds disturbing. Maybe we adults are just too damn conventional huh?
Posted by: Stephanie at May 10, 2008 8:07:26 PM
ROFL. That was a hilarious post.
Posted by: Red Charlotte at May 10, 2008 8:16:33 PM
I'm in a hotel room, crouched outside the crack of light issuing from the bathroom and trying not to laugh and wake the twins. Regardless of what you name the baby, I think I will always think of him at Natalie.
Posted by: Mel at May 10, 2008 11:22:07 PM
Sweet times! I am so very happy for all of you.
Posted by: tripleblessings at May 10, 2008 11:29:45 PM
Oh boy... Just reread your manifesto, and we mess with our 4 month old twins too... The little puffs we use on our daugther, cause she looks soooooooo cute when she frowns. And the other thing we do to our son, since sometimes it is the only thing keeping us from strangling him if he throws another one of his temper-tantrums at us. And yes, most of the times we do this we ALL end up laughing...
Wonder if your little "big brother" will do those things to his new baby brother like we did to our little baby sisters when we were younger. If he does, it's not called "messing with the baby". It's called "brotherly love". And he'll get payed back in full when his baby brother is old enough to start messing with him (AND all his toys)!
Posted by: Mijke at May 11, 2008 6:05:12 AM
Because of you, Smacky knows only that his thighs are indeed hams.
Charlie is too sweet!
Posted by: Day at May 11, 2008 7:44:22 AM
Ha! I am such a geek that I did not think of Isaac (from Love Boat), I immediately thought of the late great Isaac Asimov (I was not a fan of Love Boat but I lurve Asimov).
Thanks for the link to the manifesto. It really is priceless.
Charlie is so sweet. He will be a great big brother.
Posted by: sheilah at May 11, 2008 11:14:37 AM
I think it might be time to play Charlie a little "Boy named Sue" and gently explain how it's probably for the best to avoid spending his adulthood checking to make sure Natalie isn't around whenever he enters bars.
Seriously, though, what a lovely post!
Posted by: Meredith at May 11, 2008 9:05:56 PM
Isaac, with its meaning of, "He laughs," sounds perfect for the son of the hilarious Julie.
Posted by: Molly-Claire at May 11, 2008 10:11:55 PM
love, LOVE "mighty hams"
Posted by: Monkey's Mama at May 12, 2008 12:11:01 AM
When my younger sister was born, I was 5. I picked her name. I remember my parents and I were driving somewhere, my toddler brother in his car seat babbling, and the 'rents and I were listing names (interesting fact, although my mother never had a sex-telling ultrasound, she seemed to *know* the sex of all of us, thus we were only discussing girl names on this drive). I was listing names from books and TV shows I knew. After disregarding Amelia (and Bedelia, damn her!) and Madeleine and Anastasia, my mother paused when I started listing the girls from "Little House on the Prairie." Laura struck a note with her, and thus, my sister was named. I claim all credit.
Also, a story from AFTER my sister was born: my mom caught me in the nursery once, coaching my baby sister to call ME "Mommy." I was pointing at my own chest and insisting "Ma Ma, Ma Ma, Ma Ma." Needless to say, my mother was not amused.
Posted by: clarabella at May 12, 2008 12:30:32 AM
I'm 5 1/2 years older than my sister, and named her Laura, after Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was crazy about the Little House on the Prairie books when she was born. Of course, I was quite put out that my parents vetoed my first choice, Princess Tiger Lily.
See, at age 5 1/2, I thought that if we named her Princess Tiger Lily, she'd be the Princess Tiger Lily in my Peter Pan book!
Posted by: Kathy at May 12, 2008 3:25:53 PM
Oops, just started reading the rest of the comments that came before me, and realized I'm not the first to name her younger sister "Laura" because of Little House on the Prairie!
AND I'm not the first 5 year old to play mommy. My sister used to call my mom "Mommy" and me "Little Mommy!"
Posted by: Kathy at May 12, 2008 3:29:02 PM
When I was pregnant with my second, our then three-year old wanted to name his baby brother "God." But he also wanted to change his own name to "Shake Your Booty" so I'm glad we didn't listen to him.
Posted by: susan at May 12, 2008 4:38:12 PM
Cute post. I have to girls, thusly live in a totally different world.
Posted by: Mitch McDad at May 12, 2008 11:22:35 PM
I love all the promises Princess is making about our baby as well. the funniest thing was when she was in the mall and someone asked her if she was going to be a good big sister and help mommy, she very seriously said, "Yes with everything except the stinky parts". I just about fell over laughing.
Posted by: Twisted Cinderella at May 13, 2008 1:58:53 PM
Just this weekend, my 4-year-old told me that, in a complex plan she had for us to fly in a helicopter instead of driving to Grandma's house, that "The baby can share my parachute."
Because, duh, a baby couldn't handle her own parachute. Not as well as a preschooler could.
The baby is now 15 months, so I hope that Charlie as just as enthusiastic as mine remains about sharing that far in.
Posted by: Carrie at May 13, 2008 11:26:13 PM
Now I'm all verklempt.
I can't wait for Charlie to meet baby Natalie.
Posted by: liz at May 13, 2008 11:49:40 PM
From the time my daughter (nearly 4) learned I was pregnant, she insisted the baby will be a baby brother. It turns out, she was right, but about three weeks before we found out the sex of the baby, she decided to name her brother.
The name?
Comet.
Where it came from, I have no idea. As it turns out, it's kind of growing on me, maybe because it's better than anything my husband suggests.
Here's wishing you a healthy Isaac/Natalie/Boy Blue!
Posted by: Amy at May 14, 2008 9:07:15 AM
My baby brother did not have the opportunity to help name a younger sibling, so instead he invented a new, older sibling. Her name was Colatta Clot-head (no idea where that came from). She was 12-years old (he was 4 at the time and, coincidentally, I was 12), she had purple hair and braces, and she was constantly getting run-over by fire engines. Each time she got run-over, a helicopter would come and save her.
My brother is now 27. Every few years I try to tease him about Colatta--he smiles at the mention of her name, but he will not talk about her. Very strange.
Posted by: RRM at May 14, 2008 12:23:37 PM
im sure you have already heard...but just in case: THE DUGGARS ARE PREGNANT AGAIN!!
Posted by: jennifer at May 14, 2008 12:46:59 PM
It's wonderful that your new baby will have such a sweet big brother. And it's good for Charlie to have the little guy in his life too. Best wishes to all of you!
Posted by: Zookeeper at May 16, 2008 10:14:44 AM
Wow. How did you get so lucky to get baby Natalie's blackmail out of the way before he was even born? Throw that name around the school yard and he's SURE to shape up.
You truly have a gift.
Posted by: Babybound at May 21, 2008 5:38:54 PM
