The Poll

This week will prove to be one of the busiest we've had in a while, though recently we've had some real doosies. I don't feel much like talking about it now so I'll just ignore it. They do say that ignorance is bliss, yes? I tend to agree. Perhaps I'll have the energy to fill you in on the details tomorrow. But it is a rainy Monday today, and I have loads of laundry to do, so I'll keep this post short and sweet and ignore the hysteria that will most likely be coming this week.

Thank you all for your input on our girlie names. It was so fun to read your thoughts on our favorites. Here are the ones that are making it onto the poll, and the reasons why:

It looks like Grace is your favorite so far, which is very exciting for me. I know some were concerned with it's gaining popularity but it isn't even in the top twenty in our area and the only Grace we know is 90 some years old. And there were far fewer Graces last year than the year before in our area. So, I am less concerned about the popularity of it than I was before. I also liked what TAC had to say about it. "Having a 3-year-old "Grace" of my own, of course my vote will be Grace! It is becoming popular, but every time you tell someone her name, they always 1)love it 2) say how pretty that name is 3) have a story about a Grace they once knew!!" I've discovered the same thing in telling people we are considering Grace. Plus, there is the added bonus of little lady having the same initials (if we go with Grace Marie) as my mom. I think that is neat since all of the boys' middle names are after their grandpa or dad. And then of course you factor in my longtime obsession with the name, and it is clear that Grace is in the lead in my mind.

Bella is another favorite of yours. And while it is probably my second favorite it seems that every time I turn around someone has named their dog Bella. Hmpf. AND, when people ask the boys' names I always go in order; Joseph, Thomas, and Benjamin. Add Bella to that and the Benjamin, Bella thing doesn't sound great to me. Plus our last name begins with a B (and is two syllables) and then it just becomes a tongue twister or something. Still, I can't bring myself to take it off our list just yet. I love the name. Isabella (which a few of you have suggested using as a formal name for Bella) was #4 in our area (and has been used by two of my friends already) which is way too high up on the popularity list for me. And I can't hear Isabella without thinking of my brother's crazy, round as a barrel, springer spaniel that they affectionately nicknamed Dizzy Izzy. So Isabella (though it is a pretty name) is not an option for us. Just Bella. And Bella isn't even in the top 100 so far. Yep. I still like Bella.

I was surprised by how many of you loved Lauryn. I have loved that name for a long time but every time I bring that name up to people I've gotten mixed reviews. It was nice to see that there are a lot of you out there that really like it too. I guess the only problem I have with it is the meaning of the name is pretty weak and the nicknames aren't my favorite. Still, it is definitely going on the poll.

The last one added to the poll is Audrey. The hubby is rolling his eyes right now because he doesn't even like that name very much so that should immediately disqualify it. But it doesn't. Cause I love it, and now I know you do too. So there. ;)

And those are our top four that make it onto the poll. I still love all the other names on the list but there are reasons in my mind that they don't work. I think they will still all make it onto the list we take to the hospital (and maybe even some we haven't thought of yet), but probably aren't real contenders.

Knowing how I feel about the names, and taking into account your feelings of each of the names, which of the four is your favorite? Please scoot on over to my sidebar and cast your vote now!

Hmm. This post wasn't as short as I'd intended it to be. Long winded much?