While Britty was here, we had a mini belly photo shoot. The photo shoot was mini, the belly was not. Yes, my lovelies, Gigantor has returned.
When I got pregnant, I told my friends here that I would get huge — I did with both of my girls. But, this time it’s been such an odd pregnancy. I haven’t gained nearly the weight I did with the others, I can’t eat (but before I could eat and eat and eat), and for the longest time my belly was pretty small.
Not anymore.
I am really excited that I’ve made it to 35 weeks. I’ve breathed several sighs of relief. I’m now just trying to make it until Bean finishes her first week of school. That starts Monday. So, any time after next weekend, I’ll be ready.
But, we still need to find a name for this kid. Otherwise, he’ll end up being named Tater Tot, Brother, or simply Boy.
Here’s a question for y’all: One name we’re considering sounds better if we put the name we’ll call him in the middle. For example, instead of naming him Jimmy Earl and calling him Jimmy, we’d name him Jimmy Earl and call him Earl. (But we’re not actually thinking of Jimmy or Earl…. sorry to the lovely Jimmys and Earls we know out there.) Do you go by your middle name? Does someone in your family go by his/her middle name? What kind of experience have you/him/her had? Just wondering…..
The mab Blab 
kristinmcneil
Both my husband and son go by their middle names. George Jason and George Austin. Jason didn’t hate it, or I don’t think he’d have let us do it to his son.
Tara
Boyd goes by his middle name, and he HATES it. When we were picking names (before we knew SC was a girl) I wanted to name the boy William Jackson and have him go by Jackson (William is Boyd’s legal first name). He flat out refused and said he would never curse his child with having to go by his middle name, so he told me if I wanted a Jackson, then Jackson would have to come first. So I settled on Jackson Lane because he would not budge on the middle name deal (and Jackson William just doesn’t have the same ring to it). And then we found out she was a girl. So all that drama for nothing. 🙂
And FYI I don’t know when I’ve ever seen you so pretty! You definitely have that mama-to-be glow – you’re gorgeous!
Jennifer Taylor
Hey Mandi! You look so cute and not gigantic at all!! Ok, I had to comment after I read this blog because we’ve been dealing with the name thing this week with Mason. His name is Thomas Mason, but he goes by Mason. He starts school this week, and we’re already having to tell his teacher/administrators to call him Mason after all his paperwork, nametags, etc. were all printed as Thomas. I am really wishing we hadn’t done this to him (and to ourselves), so I would recommend not doing it! Just my thoughts! Looking forward to seeing pics of that baby boy!!!
Cole Gilbert
Don’t do it! I go by a nickname of my middle name so it is even more drama (Cole from Catherine Nicole)! I always hated in school having to ask the teacher to call me something different instead of just being able to say “here.” Also for anything legal or for medical info they will automatically put your first name. I finally had to tell my OB to please write it on my chart and call me Cole because I saw her so often, but felt like she didn’t know me at all when she said “Hi Catherine.” Even now I still have to sign both names to the back of checks because my bank won’t take just Cole. Unnecessary drama if you can figure out how to just call him by his first name! I said I would absolutely never do this to my kids because of my experience!
Kelli Moon Kennedy
We did this to both girls, Norah Grace and Audrey Camille. It has caused some confusion, but I just have to be diligent about giving both names for anything official. We like both of their names so much we won’t mind if they ever chose to go by the other. I wouldn’t change it and I think it’s a little unique to. My brother was also the same way and had always used his middle name.
Denise B
Hey MAB, i have no go-by-my-middle-name experience but just wanted to say you look BEAUTIFUL and I’m so excited for you about this baby!!! Love to your fam!! Denise B
Brenda Heath Wilcox
My niece named their son after his dad…James Quinn…they call him Quinn but not so when he is other situations….said she would not do that again…..don’t do anything that will cause confusion at school…weird spellings have caused so many kiddos problems at school….
Ava Rutherford
Hey! Kevin and his brother, Chad, and his dad, Mike, all go by their middle names. But here is a suggestion someone once gave me on helping to pick out a name, especially for a boy. You should yell their full name around the house and as if you are getting onto them and if it rolls off the tongue easily, you’ve got the perfect name. Have fun with that!! 🙂
Ash
My dad is Jeffrey Dean & goes by Dean. My brother is a jr but Daddy refused to call him Dean Jr. so he’s Jeffrey, well, now he’s all grown up so he’s Jeff.
Karen
I had never ever ever met anyone that went by their middle name until I met my hubby. He uses his middle name for two reasons – first he’s a “second” the other is because he got teased about his name as a kid. I mean really – who’s not gonna make fun of Lucious when you’re 12. (However Lucious is really one of the coolest names ever). I soon found out that many people in his family use their middle names instead of their first – maybe it’s a Southern thing. Personally I think calling Jimmy Earl is a wonderful idea! ps – you look fabulous! xoxo
Amanda Allison
My sister-in-law went by her middle name. She hated her first name and got so irritated at the hole role call thing in school, and filling out official paperwork. She eventually legally dropped her first name altogether. I have never liked calling kids by there middle name and she just confirmed my feelings toward it. But seriously, it doesn’t matter what others think. This is your baby and can name him whatever you want. It shouldn’t be anyone else’s concern.
Amanda Allison
**their**
Lexanne Horton
Your pictures are lovely and you do have that glow! I had two rules in naming my children based on my own experience: 1. Don’t name them something funky and hard to pronounce, and 2. Don’t name them one thing and call them something else. I am still explaining my name to people once a month as an adult! Also, you need to take note of Mike’s experience – his name is Michael Scot. His parents called him Scot, and all his family call him Scot to this day. However, in 5th grade he realized everybody else went by their first name, so he changed his name to Mike. So everyone that has met Mike since 5th grade must call him Mike, but everyone who knew Mike before calls him Scot. When we went to visit his family while we were dating, I didn’t know what to call him, so I called him Scot, but was promptly reprimanded by Michael Scot and I must call him Mike. So even if you call him Earl, he may end up a Jimmy…I think using middle names are ok for seconds and thirds, but you child will have lots of explaining to do otherwise!
T
I think you look lovely! 🙂
Jill
LOVE that last picture!
ussleah
My husband goes by his middle name Benjamin Drew and I got kind of obsessed with the concept when we started picking names for our first baby. She is Lillian Grace, but we call her Grace and if we have a boy this time we already know what his name will be and he will go by his middle name. Drew is now considering using both our middle names as a name for the next one if it is a girl. So, yeah…go with the middle name thing.
GeekLady
My second daughter’s name will be Teresa Benedicta, but I’m planning on calling her by Benedicta. One because we already have a Teresa, socially, so it reduces conversational confusion. Two, because I won’t be able to resist calling her Bene. Of course she’ll be a little hellion, she won’t be able to resist the irony.
(First daughter is stuck with Elanor Aurora.)
GeekLady
I vote for William Beau, incidentally. It would be awesome.