A Funny Little Story About His Name

We attended a work function a couple of weeks ago in which a *funny* little thing happened I thought I'd share, since I think about it every day since. You'll understand in a minute...

For the record, we have a name already. DH is the fourth to have this family name, and it is a good name. John Benjamin. Good, solid. I like it. There was never a second thought that our little boy would take his father's name. JBR V. Perfect. See...the letters are already up in the room, I can't possibly change it now, not that I would (relax honey).

So a couple of weeks ago, we go to this function where I run into a family friend that tells me how excited my inlaws are that we are pregnant, that grandpa is super excited that we are having a boy and he is going to be John Benjamin. Yes, I am the best daughter-in-law in the world thankyouverymuch. I try hard. She tells me that FIL, who goes by Jack, said that he is going to call the baby "Jack" no matter what. I laugh, "Hahaha. His name is John Benjamin the fifth, and I have been calling him Johnny, but we'll see what we call him. We can go with Johnny, or Ben, or Jack. But I've been calling him Johnny. We'll see. Hahaha." End of conversation. No big deal.

The next day, I tell DH about this conversation. He says, "Oh, yeah. I don't like Johnny."

WHAT?

For eight months I have been calling the baby Johnny. Eight months. Outloud. DH has heard me and has NEVER said anything, which I've interpreted that I have permission to bond with "Johnny". I even mentioned it at the baby shower that we are having a boy, he will be John Benjamin the fifth and we've been calling him Johnny. What was DH waiting for? The baby to be 4 years old before he mentioned the name? Are you serious?

Here is the deal: I like the name Jack. I always thought that if we were to have a boy, he'd be JBR V and we'll call him Jack, but when it actually happened to us, Johnny just felt right. If DH would have mentioned not liking Johnny eight months ago, I wouldn't be typing this now. EIGHT MONTHS!!!

He had some good arguments.

• Our last name is short and can sound generic paired up with John. True.
• It will be hard to transition from Johnny to John when he gets older. Johnny will stick longer than we'd like, or he'd like. True.
• We both like Jack. True.

"Well, just think about it" he says. Sure honey.

I've been thinking about it ever since. This has not been easy. I've concluded that I am not going to stress over it...after all, we have a name; John Benjamin. Once he is born, his nickname will come to us, I'm sure, so I am not going to sweat it. In the meantime, is there anything else I need to know, honey? Speak now, or forever hold your peace!

So I type up this story because it is just one more "funny" thing that happened along our journey. One day, little Johnny, or whatever his name will be, will look back and say, "I'm glad you went with _____." Or maybe he'll say, "I like _______ better." Oh, nothing is easy! It would be weird if it was. Hahaha!