Naming Baby

We are expecting our 5th grandchild in February and cannot believe the uproar it is causing in this family choosing a name for this little darling. It is starting to get a little out-of-hand and perhaps we should just reel this back in and remember that Shelly is having this baby AND Shelly can name this baby whatever she wants with absolutely no input from the rest of us. Do we all think that we own a stake in this baby because the mommy and daddy are not together? Do we feel that she is ours to name? NOT!

We have a stressed out mother-to-be, one daughter ranting at Grandma over the phone, Grandma hanging up on said daughter and Grandpa running around saying "I don't care what she names her, I'm calling her Annabelle."  Oh yeah, but that won't work because we already HAVE a 'belle' in the family - Isabelle - so we have been told.

It all started out so innocently. Big sister, Trinity, wanted to call her Anna because for some reason she thinks she was suppose to be named Anna when she was born.  (Let me add here that the middle name was going to be Michele since we have a tradition of sort of passing down names) Well, then Anna was too simple so the mommy-to-be set us out on a mission that we needed to jazz it up somehow; like Brianna or Deanna or even Rhianna. So one night I cruised the internet for hours (really, hours) searching out names and came up with some that I was really excited about:  Besides the ones above, I came up with Hannah, Julianna, Kristianna, Seanna, Savannah or just leave it at Anna.  I was so excited to call and give my suggestions but before I could even say the first one, "It's going to be Lexi Anne, I made up my mind, it's stressing me out" is what I heard. I could understand that.

AND, then the question is, do you give the baby the father's last name or Shelly's last name which is Smith but according to some is NOT her legal last name but "Schmidt" is. I haven't figured that logic out yet but anyhow, to move on.  At first I was not too fond of tagging her with daddy's last name but I've come around to that one even though I think Shelly is still a little hesitant to give up her last name totally. 

I finally told her......pick out three names YOU like. After the baby is put in your arms and you look her over from head to toe, you WILL know which one of the three names fit the best.  Keep them a secret even, who cares? Hey, it worked when naming her sister. When she was born, I couldn't make up my mind so I gave her father three choices, he took one look at her and decreed "She's a Becky".

OR..............

Might I be so bold as to make a suggestion that I think would take care of the whole name fiasco.....

Alexis (or Annalee) Schmidt Hamilton

Ya got Lexi for Alexis (also Allen is Grandpa's middle name)  and/or your Anna for Trinity AND Lee is Shelly's middle name.
Ya got the "Schmidt" name.
And, ya got daddy's name - Hamilton

(No hyphens, no dots, no commas.....just three separate names.)

Many children have been given their mom's maiden name as a middle name for simply the reason of importance to the mother and/or tradition.  Besides, the norm is not to run around calling your kids by their first and middle names at the same time (unless you're really mad at them) so who cares what the middle name is. What matters is what is important to the one naming the child and that is her MOTHER!!

As far as Shelly goes, I can see why she is so stressed out......but as for me, I'm done adding to her stress.  Perhaps everyone else should be too.