A baby's name

Those of you who are parents understand the importance of choosing just the right name for your child. I thought it was difficult enough to name a dog. But a child... that's another story. At least the dog doesn't care if it is called Rover, Pongo or HeyU. Your children have to live with the names you pick for them for nearly 100 years! If they don't like their name's it is your fault.

Yesterday, Sheryl and I had lunch at Bennigan's and pored over the baby name books looking for names for our soon to be born son. We are not sure if we will continue the naming pattern we already have established. Everybody in our household's first name is 6 letters and has an "H" in it. The kids names all begin with the letter "M" On the other hand, do we name this child in honor of my mom who passed away two years ago?

So once we find a name which either fits the naming pattern or honors Mom we put it on the list. Some names get crossed off immediately. Reese -- Reese's Pieces. McHale -- McHale's Navy. Simon, Simple Simon or Simon Says... You get the idea.

I don't think I will ever forgot what happened to my friends Joe and Tina years ago. They were expecting their second child, a girl. They agonized over the name like Sheryl and I are doing now. After much thought they decided to name their little girl Amber. They thought they had found a name which the kids couldn't make fun of. How wrong they were. Just days after Amber was born, they brought her home to meet her 3 year old brother, Sam. Upon meeting his sister for the first time he said "Hi Amber-ger!"