What's In a Name? I am Going to be a Grandma!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This blog has nothing to do with dogs, other than the fact that my newly pregnant daughter and I have four between us. For those of you that follow my blogs, you know that my daughter and I have a long-standing disagreement about whose dogs are better.  We argue about a lot of things like who is smarter and she loves to play her PhD card.  The last time she said something, I told her she is book smart, but I am street smart, and she said, “what street? Sesame Street?”  Most of the things my daughter and her husband say are mostly to see what reaction I will give, especially about my dogs, because they both love Fudge and Vern, but that never stops us from trying to one up the other.  I love my grand dogs and would take them in a heartbeat, but I never have a moment’s hesitation about pointing out their faults to give my dogs the lead in this private competition we have going on about our dogs.  Besides, I know I am right about my dogs and my brain.

 

Well, all that aside, and since DK is part of my life and I have shared so many other things on this site, I would like to announce that this dog loving daughter is pregnant, which means I am going to be a grandma. This daughter is fiercely independent and I just know this is going to be a problem for me with the pregnancy and birth of our first grandchild.  It’s already started!  Before she got pregnant, a while back, she told me a name she liked for a girl and I told her I was going to start praying for a boy immediately. I can’t even remember what the name was, and I was sworn to secrecy so nobody else would steal the name, even though I assured her repeatedly I doubted anyone else would want the name.  She told me it was her baby and she could name it whatever she wanted and I should keep my thoughts to myself.  I am paraphrasing, because it wasn’t really all that nice the way she said it, and when I asked her how she would know what I was thinking if I kept everything bottled up inside, she said, “exactly, now you are catching on!”  She always likes to add that sometimes I should just listen and my favorite thing to do when she says that is to say, “what?” 

 

John and her husband, Doc, say we are button pushers.  They say we like to push each other’s buttons and sometimes they just don’t get that we are only conversing and the loud voices are just the way we do things.  For them, it is always a fine line they walk whether or not to get involved and risk a couple of button pushers turning their attention on some new button holes or just to walk out of the room shaking their heads.  We always end up laughing, but we have reached an impasse with the name I want to be called by my first grandchild.  For years, I have said I want to be called Mamacita and recently she officially squashed that idea.  First, she said it made no sense since Doc is Vietnamese and then she had the audacity to say I don’t fit the description and she couldn’t stop laughing. 

mamacita from the urban dictionary

1)"Hot mama", "sexy lady" in the U.S. and Central America and Mexico

Mamacita (from Google)

Mamacita is a diminutive form of 'mamá', the Spanish word for 'mum'. Diminutives are often used to imply affection or fondess, as well as smallness, obviously. The equivalent word in English would be 'mummy', or literally: 'little mummy'.

Since I don’t want her to be stressed during her pregnancy, I conceded defeat on that name and said, “how about Glam or Glamma?”  I became alarmed when it sounded like she doubled over with some kind of spasms as she answered back, “Did you say Ham Hock?”  She knows darn well those two words don’t even sound like Glam or Glamma and who wants their grandkid running around saying, “Ham Hock, I made this macaroni necklace just for you!”

 

Next, Doris (of Doris, Knox, and Flash) got all excited when she came up with the name Lolly for me and Pop for John.  Well, I ran the names by John and he said to tell Doris to lose our number and he wanted to be called something different.  Since he didn’t specify what, I ran a few preliminary names by him, but he said he doubted Megan was going to go for any of them, especially Stupid Name Squasher, and he thought anything with the name Mother in front of it was just going to confuse the kid.  When I told Megan the Lolly Pop idea, she said to imagine myself out somewhere with her kid screaming, “Lolly, Pop,” over and over again.  So, I closed my eyes for a minute and imagined the scene and said, “I like it,” and Megan said she would go along with it if I made one minor change from Lolly to Dum-Dum.   Well, I did love those Dum-Dum suckers, especially the Butterscotch flavor, but if John doesn’t have to be called Sucker, I am not going to be called Dum-Dum. Another name down the drain.

 

I can already see how this is all going to play out. First, my name ideas got shot down and next it will be my motherly advice.  The other day she actually told me I have no say in anything and all decisions would be made between the parents only.  I tried to argue that her kid was going to have my DNA too, and she said, “That’s why it took Doc so long to agree to have a baby.”  They laugh hysterically when they say this stuff and then she always adds, “Tell dad what I just said. That was a good one.”  She’s going to be sorry when she calls for my advice and I tell her, “sorry, Ham Hock Dum-Dum is not available at this time, but maybe Mother Sucker Pop Pop can help.” See how she likes it when I hand the phone to him, she explains the whole situation to him, and she thinks he hung up on her because it takes him so long to respond.  No one wants someone pondering the question on the other end of the line when you want fast answers. Megan and I are “hurry up and answer the question” kind of people and John is more the “let’s think this completely through and stare off into space while doing it,” type, which is never a good match.  In fact, it may be the worst combination of people of all time, because while he is pondering and thoughtfully and carefully relaying his thoughts, we are drumming our fingers, silently fuming, and eventually, when our blood pressure is near stroke level, our emotions boil over and we start screaming things about not having enough time in the day and we are sorry we asked.  In retrospect, it may be part of John’s master plan to avoid conversation, but I figure two passed phone calls to John and she will be yelling in the phone, "SWEET, LITTLE, ATTRACTIVE MAMACITA, I BEG YOU NOT TO PASS THE PHONE TO DAD!"

 

Mostly, I am jesting because I know with enough candy and bribes, I can make that kid call me whatever I want.   So, even though I have a few kinks to work out with the names, we are thrilled we are going to be grandparents.  Thrilled beyond belief!  I can’t wait to meet this new little wonder in August and I really feel that this could be John’s and my moment to shine.  Stay tuned……..

My daughter, Megan, and her baby bump!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Great idea to recycle the costumes. That kid is set for Halloween for years to come.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Cheryl, LOL....I think if I start early enough, it will all work out :)

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

:) You are going to be the most fun grandmother ever!!  I do hope this dear little one likes to play dress-up :) And bubbles!  Must like bubbles :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, I do have plenty of costumes that I think will fit the baby :) Lobster, monkey, turtle, grapes, Jane Goodall.....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Cheryl, Every kid should have three grandmas.....like three fairy godmothers :) Nona is nice. Thank you!!

Karen, Thank you! I like Nonnie, too! I can't wait to find out what being a grandma is all about :)

Kristen, Thank you!

Carol, Thank you! Didn't our own grandmas always seem ancient, yet I don't feel that way at all. I don't even have grey hair...wink, wink :)

Allyson, Thank you! I can't wait!! Sounds like your mom took right to it once she saw that adorable Charlotte. BTW, I love that name.

Nancy, Wow....love my big CONGRATS! Thank goodness they came up with a name for you. I would hate to think your grandchild kept having to point at you to get your attention :) I keep saying it...God knew what he was doing when he gave me daughters :) Thank you!!

Robin, I just wanted something different....with a little more pizzazz :) Ham Hock wasn't it. LOL Thank you!!

F, You know I have to be a little contrary. I doubt there will be more pictures since we live so far away. I will try! LOL

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

DJ, Thank you....I am already sensing there may be problems about the "who is in charge" thing :)

Camilla, Thank you! You need to fly to OR and take those shots :)

Donna, I hope so...I would love to known as the fun one :) Thank you!!

Bonnie, Thank you! I always say that I am so happy I had girls. I think you gave me some good advice, Toots! Now, I just hope I can listen :)

Nancie, Great advice!! I like all of your names, except Pee Pee :) LOL Thank you!!

Jane, I so wish Megan lived closer, so I could babysit. I pray every night that she will move closer to home. Of course, that kid will have to realize that what happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's....OR ELSE.  LOL We will have to toast to all this in October.....you with an umbrella drink and me with my Root Beer :) Thank you!

Wendy, LOL about Old Grandma :) I do not want that name EVER! I can't wait to see what Megan's child comes up with for us. Oh boy :) Thank you!

Cheryl, Thank you so much!! As you know, we can't wait!! Pretty exciting news! Like you always tell me, I am glad I had girls :) I see ads all the time for Zulilly....can't wait to check it all out.

Lonnie, You are the nicest person ever. I love the grandparent's book you sent me and it was such a nice surprise. So much friendship I have found on DK. Hayley is thrilled to be an aunt, too! I have so many wonderful nieces and nephews and now we are starting with great nieces and nephews :) Love them all. Mum is cute! Thank you!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sheri, I like it....let me run it by the boss. LOL

Doris, You little Texan smart a$$....I don't think Big Foot is much better than Ham Hock :) LOL

Thank you, Jennifer. I hope you are feeling a little better! Actually, I hope you are feeling a whole lot better.

Leslie, I will tell her we have another vote for Lolly :) It could sway her opinion. LOL

Janie, YAY for Katie!! Such a great girl! Thank you!!

BG, LOL....your comment cracked me up, but I still think NOT :)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Bubbles! yes! Not so sure about the Gum part...lol! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Ok, I might need to apologize upfront for this post, but in my sadness for Doris in knowing that Lolly and Pop have been vetoed this just popped into my head at this ridiculous hour of the morning ... due to all the photos we have been seeing lately I'm thinking the perfect name for Grandma might be "Bubbles" and what goes with Bubbles better than "Gum"    Bubbles and Gum ... there you go!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Ding, Ding, Ding...I'VE GOT IT!!! What about "Big Foot" and "Big Daddy"??? Try that on for size : )