Nicknames

I've been waiting for months to write a blog about the nicknames in our family. Derrick is the king of nicknames and he creates such delightful names for our children that we rarely call our kids by their real names.

I remember attending a ladies event soon after I moved to Athens. The icebreaker was to tell our nicknames and I could not think of any. My children should never have that problem.

Scott's teacher has created a "special words" ring (to hold flashcards) for each child, so they get excited about learning words that are special to them. In her Friday letter this week, she asked us to send in our child's nicknames and interests.

Scott's names are "Scooter", "Scoot", "Bo-Bo", "Bo-Bo Jo", "Squirrel", and, of course he will always be our "Baby Burrito", although we rarely use that one any more. Yesterday, we were reading a book about bugs and there was a section on "Social Bugs." We decided that may be a good one to add for Scott.

Andrew also has names. Before birth, he was C2S4 - Child #2 Seuser family of four. Now he is "Roo", "Andy-roo", "Rho-Rho", "Rho", "Monkey", "Smonkey", and "Daddy's Baby" (we will only use that one as long as he likes it - he currently thinks that is a great name.)

Amanda may be young, but she already has a long list of names. Before birth she was "ceiling tile." Thankfully that one hasn't stuck, although I still occasionally hear one of the boys call her that. Her current names are "Amanda the Panda", "Squirrel Girl", "Screech", and "Demanda" (only at dinner time - she LOVES to eat). Andrew calls her "Amandy the Pandy."

We love the names that we selected for our children at birth, but it is fun to add nicknames as their personalities emerge.

9/16/09 - I thought of a few more overnight:

*It amazes me how many people call Amanda, "Miss Amanda". It must just flow really well off the tongue. But Scott and Andrew prefer "Mrs. Amanda". They know the difference between a Miss and Mrs. and think it is really funny to call her a Mrs. I think they also think they are somehow tricking us when they say that.

*How could I have forgotten "Hurricane Andrew!" He isn't as much of a hurricane as he was a year ago, but the name still fits at times. Also, my Mom called to let me know that her favorite name for Andrew is "Stealth". He is our most quiet and independent child. We are never quite sure where we will find him when we walk into a room.