Naming Your Heart

Naming your baby is just that--naming your heart. Baby Girl Kotowski has a name, but I don't want to share it with the masses yet (I'm superstitious, remember?). For the record though, it wasn't hard for us to agree on a name. The hubby and I are very team like people--if BGK had been a boy, he would get to pick out his name. My dear hubby didn't win that lottery; he was allowed "yea" or "neigh" privileges. 

While I'm thrilled to call my daughter her official name while holding her in my arms, that's not the type of names I'm talking about. All parents, especially fathers, have a tendency to nickname their children. It's not new or different, but can be extremely amusing. My dad to this day still calls me "punkin," and I wouldn't trade it for the world. He called my brothers "champ," "pokey" and "Mr. C"--respectively. My mom always called us by loving adjective names--ms. priss, angel, buddy, love, etc.

Before we knew BGK was a girl, I called her bean because I hated using the word "it."Now I call her by a shortened version of her real name. (I'm not really trying to be a tease, but I prefer only family and close friends know her name before she arrives. Sorry!) 

My husband started calling the belly "Bubba" when I started showing, which was before finding out that lots of pink and purple were in our future. I'll be honest, once he found out, I thought she would have a new nickname from her already doting father--I was wrong. He almost exclusively calls her Bubba regardless of pointing out that Bubba is in fact a she.

At first it worried me--what if she has a complex? Then I thought about it and realized Bubba was a little less manly than some of my grandpa's nicknames for my aunts (one is Butch and the other is Gus). Both of my aunts turned out better than okay; so who am I to judge? Plus it's really adorable. 

I have no idea how long the nickname will continue, but I'm fairly certain it will exist beyond her birth. And truthfully, I know she will adore her dad because I do. More than likely it will be a special bond for them...that is until she has a crush in middle school and asks her daddy to please not call her that in public. 

Already a Character

Because of my complications (no worries--Baby Girl Kotowski is fantastic!) I currently have to go see my OB once a week (this doesn't count other doctor visits...I have become a professional patient). Despite the tediousness of having to see at least one doctor once a week, it does bring me some amusement. After all if you're not laughing at something, you're not enjoying life.


Perhaps the biggest inconvenience of these appointments is the fact that at a minimum they last an hour. During the appointments BGK and I have to be electronically monitored for at least 45 minutes, then be ultrasound and chat with my amazing OB (seriously if you need a recommendation in the Los Angeles area, let me know!).  Sounds very intimidating and nerve wracking; right?


It certainly was at first. The first time I showed up for the monitoring I had no idea what it encompassed. I was exuding anxiety and hormonally on the verge of tears during the whole lead up. So, the nurse tried to be very soothing. She hooked the pink belt around my tummy to hear BGK's heartbeat...She moved it around a little bit, which is normal, but couldn't find it. So, she kept moving it around...and kept moving it around. Needless to say, my anxiety was starting to hit the roof when I started feeling BGK moving fast and furious. 


All the anxiety and tears made way for a whole different emotion and sound--humor and laughter. This poor nurse continued to try to find BGK's heartbeat for about 5 minutes, but BGK thought the monitor was a toy. Monitor was placed and she kicked it like it was a soccer ball--over and over again. So many times in fact the nurse walked away and came back 10 minutes later.  Yes, my unborn daughter is so big of a character that she is already frustrating nurses. Oy!

Who could stay mad at this face?

BGK and I have been back several times for this monitoring since. But all the times until today was a different nurse. The nurse the last couple of weeks could find the heartbeat right away (admittedly it's gotten much easier since BGK is a bit of a hoss and doesn't have has much room to flip or anything). However, this morning I was back to my original nurse.  She called my name, saw me stand up and said, "Oh no!" 


Yep, BGK has traumatized a young nurse already! My only response (while giggling) was, "I think she'll behave better this time." And she did! I'm happy she behaved; however, her first embarrassing story for family/friends/future love interests as already been born.