Call me crazy...

... I'm having some serious doubts about the name we chose for this baby boy... even though I'm almost 34 weeks and we decided ages ago.

I really want to love Sullivan. It has a lot of meaning to me. It is my maiden name, a name that I was proud of and loved. I'll be honest- I was actually a little sad to wave goodbye to my maiden name and take my husband's name when we got married. I thought it would be a neat way to carry on the Sullivan family name- and apparently, so do a lot of the Sullivans!

BUT no matter how hard I've tried, I just can't picture calling a baby, or child, or even a teenager Sullivan. Sully, yes. I looove the nickname Sully. {It was my nickname in high school + college track & cross country} But Sullivan just sounds so clunky and long to me. I'm not sure if it's because it was my former last name or what... I thought I would get used to it over time, but I haven't. Every time I refer to this baby, I call him Sully, and I feel like I should love his full name as much (if not MORE) than his nickname. Some people have suggested just naming him Sully, but to me it isn't strong enough to stand alone as a first name, particularly for an adult in the business/professional world.

As time passes, I've been thinking worrying about this more and more. I feel a little funny changing it because it took us SO long to finally agree on a name, we've already announced it, it is already up on the nursery wall. At the same time, I'm just not 100% sold on the name.

The name that is growing on me more and more (which we ALMOST chose instead of Sullivan) is Emmett. Yes, it is similar to Elliot- which was the main thing holding me back before. Buuut, at this point, I'm just so happy to have a name we both agree on and love... and I actually really like how Elliot & Emmett sound together.
His full name would be Emmett Sullivan- so my maiden name would still be in there.

Hmmm... decisions, decisions!

baby brother has a name!

Introducing, Elliot's little brother: Sullivan Grey! :)


I had my anatomy scan today. After they examined every tiny part of his organs and extremities, they declared Sully "superbly healthy." There were no defects that they could see, and he was still measuring 1-2 weeks ahead, weighing in at exactly one pound (16 oz). SUCH a relief! <3

Sullivan was, what the doctor described as "outrageously active." During the scan, he flipped himself into the transverse, breech, AND head-down positions, before finally settling back into the breech presentation {just like his big brother} and curling up with his little hands by his face. He also waved, mooned us, grabbed his toes, and insisted on smashing his feet flat against my uterus while they were trying to get pictures of his feet, making it nearly impossible. He's a wild one!





They did notice right away that my cervix was already quite thin- alarming but not too surprising, since the same thing happened with Elliot, although it was a few weeks later than now. For now, they told me to try not to worry too much, to relax and keep an eye on my braxton hicks, and that they would reevaluate the "situation" in 4 weeks to see if it has changed. I pray that little Sully isn't planning a super early arrival- I can't go on bedrest this time, not when I have to take care of Elliot!


I'm so happy that my little man is healthy and active! Such a relief!

more reasons why we need to decide on a name!

You know, it's really bothering me that we still haven't been able to agree on baby boy #2's name. Why, you may ask? Well, first of all, I'd just like to know his name!

Second, I have a lot of crafting and decorating ideas that I'd like to get started on, but can't until we, of course, decide on his name. Because his name or at the very least his initial is involved.

I want to put all four of our initials (A, J, E, and....? along with a big G) on a wall in the living room, something sort of like this:

Source: bhg.com via Jess on Pinterest

or THIS:

Source: s461.photobucket.com via Jess on Pinterest

I also can't wait to add baby boy's name above Elliot's on the nursery wall. I plan to use chip decor letters and fun scrapbooking paper again, so they coordinate well with Elliot's :) Some other interesting ways to do nursery baby names are below:

Different sized letters- not sure why I never thought of this?

Source: google.com via Jess on Pinterest

and how cute is this?

Source: Uploaded by user via Jess on Pinterest

Cute, right?!
I know, I know... just pick one! If only it were that easy!

I may be brave enough to narrow our choices down to just three:
1. Sullivan Grey (Sully)
2. Finnian Jude (Finn)
3. Milo Benjamin
... but I'm not sure that I want to let go of Cyrus Grey yet, though... so we'll see.

Part of me thinks that the perfect name is still hiding somewhere, and we just haven't found it yet...

I've been driving my husband nuts with this name thing. So I'm sure we'll decide soon... if for nothing else, just so we can be done with it and my husband won't have to listen to me talking about names 24/7.
I'll be sure to let you all know when we do!

it's a...

Well, I originally wanted to wait until we decided on his name, but it's obvious that we aren't going to magically decide right this minute. We're getting closer, though! So, I won't keep you waiting any longer.

Baby number two is a...

BOY!!

I won't lie. I was disappointed at first. But now, as the idea of having TWO little boys is starting to sink in, I'm excited. I hope this baby will be a cuddly mama's boy like his big brother. If so, I don't know what I'll do with myself. I don't know how I'll be able to handle so much cuteness all at once!!

We've narrowed down our list to five names:
♥ Sullivan Grey (Sully) {Sullivan is my maiden name}
♥ Emmett James {Too close to Elliot??}
♥ Finnian Jude (Finn)
♥ Milo Benjamin
♥ Cyrus Grey

more baby names.

I seriously couldn't sleep last night because I had baby names on the brain. Sooo, here are my new name lists... some of these I like as middle names, some as first, some I'm not even entirely sure I like/would use. I'm just trying to make some big ol' lists to share with Aaron.

Boy:

Flynn Finn Sawyer Cade Jude Graham
Kellan Milo Finn Porter Channing Griffin
Reese Beckett Skylar Kyler Holden Atticus
Grey Tanner Kieran James Asher

my favorites: Flynn, Sawyer, Cade, Graham
his favorites: Sawyer, Asher, Reese, Finley, Holden


Girl:

Elsa Willow Eden Ada Aurora Mira
Loralie Sawyer Maisie Harlow Lenora
Hazel Eliza Ender Elsie Monroe Edie
Arden Violet Scarlett Wren Cora Mara Rose
Hadley Grace Rowen Ruby Luciana Briar

my favorites: Elsa, Ada, Hazel, Eden, Mara, Willow
his favorites: Willow, Aurora, Sawyer

Suggestions are always welcome!

Bellies pop much sooner the second time around...

13 weeks 1 day belly... definitely starting to show a lot sooner with the second pregnancy!

I look terrible. It's been rainy and cold here so... I haven't put much effort into my appearance lately. Aaron also has a SIX DAY weekend, so we've been lazing around the house. :) Even Elliot is staying in his jammies all day today.

Click below to see our updated name list.

My favorites are Ada, Elsa, and Eden.
Aaron's are Aurora, Willow, and Sawyer.

13 weeks, new names, & my Ellie belly.

First of all, thank you for all of the suggestions and votes on our names yesterday. I also asked for help on facebook {if we're not already friends, you can add me here.} By the end of the night, my status had 65 comments! In all, Aaron and I have over FIFTY new names to look over. I like a lot of them, but I'm sure Aaron probably won't, so it should be easy to narrow it down a little. I'll be updating our name list within a day or two- I'll let you know. :) Some of my favorites, off the top of my head, are Ada, Lenora, Loralie, Eden, and Elyse. I'm also toying with some of the really unique ones, such as Ender, Monroe, and Finn + Sawyer (as girls' names).

Second, today I am 13 weeks pregnant! Almost in the second trimester! Praise God! If you know our history with miscarriage, then you understand why I am so happy to have those first 13 weeks behind me.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, some pictures of Elliot. Can't forget about him!


{excuse the nose crusties. He has a cold, HATES getting his nose wiped, and I didn't even notice how gross his nose was until AFTER I put the camera down, of course}




His new favorite toy. Thank you, Target!









I haven't asked in awhile. Could we get a vote? Comment that you voted and I'll vote back!!

The Great Name Dilemma

Naming another human being is a big responsibility. I mean, he/she will have this name for the rest of his/her life. It makes them who they are, it defines them, it is an identity. To be honest, picking the perfect name stresses me out!

Like I said before, I'm fairly confident that we're having a girl this time. Either way, we've already narrowed down our boys choices and are happy with them (Finn & Sawyer). It's the GIRL NAMES we are having trouble with. Everything I like, Aaron hates, and vice-versa. I literally FELL IN LOVE with the name Ruby, I had dreams about a little girl named Ruby, and everything... but Aaron shot it down and said we could only use it as a middle name.

What I want in a name:
- a shorter name that cannot be turned into a nickname
- we really love vintage, classic, beautiful names
- easy to pronounce and spell
- most importantly: NOT POPULAR!! (preferably not in the top 200)

Our name list is below. Please read, vote, comment, etc. Suggestions are also welcome.


We have an elective/gender ultrasound scheduled for January 11th, 2012!!

Can I have your attention, please?

It's time for the big announcement. :)
We're having... a BOY!!
I was finally able to tell my husband the news this morning! The first thing he said was, "I knew it!" We are both so incredibly excited.
Everything seems so much more real now that I know I have a son. It's wonderful!
We decided on his name almost immediately:
Our little man's name is Elliot Reid


Elliot sucking his thumb.


Yup, definitely A BOY! (The large mass/cloud next to his left thigh is the exposed bowel from his gastroschisis.)


One of his teensy little feet :)

What's in a name?

I'm having the hardest time deciding on baby names.
Naming a child is such a big responsibility. A name is forever!
And of course, it seems like almost every name that I like either has an annoying association (Maisey the Mouse, Elsie the Cow, Marley the Dog, Noah's Ark, etc) OR an absolutely ridiculous meaning. I once considered the name Avery, which I think is really pretty, but I nearly died when I read the meaning: Elf Ruler. Really?!
Please note: My name is Jessica, which was the number ONE name the year I was born. I absolutely hated having four other Jessica's in my kindergarden class, so I've ALWAYS said I wouldn't pick a popular name for my child. I'm in LOVE with the name Noah, but it's dangerously close to being the #1 name for 2010. GULP! I don't even know why I still have it on my list, to be honest.
So, here's my name list. NONE of these middle names are set in stone- so if you have other suggestions (particularly for Oliver and Reid), please share!

My personal favorites right now are Maisey and Oliver. I'm really starting to like Reid, too.