Monday, August 1, 2011

"Asher"- Apparently just a formality

It's incredible what comes out of my mouth when I am talking to a tiny human being all day long.  Although I have spent the majority of my life hanging out with kids, there is something different about being with my child 24/7.

The other day I was talking to Asher and called him a "pumpkin nugget".  Pumpkin nugget??  What the heck is a pumpkin nugget?  Sounds like a magical bean that should be found by a child in the forest, planted in the ground, and then grow into a 65 foot pumpkin that leads to a land in the clouds.  After the nugget incident I began reflecting on the other names directed towards the new Graham family member.  Sadly, there are enough names to be divided into categories...

Inspired by animals:
Koala Bear
Inchworm
Turtle
Roly Poly

Based off Physical Characteristics:
Big Cheeks
Chubster
Puppy Eyes
Big Smiles
Baby Face

Created from his behavior:
Pirate- has one eye open and the other shut... happens often
Mr. Struggle- when he just can't get settled
Straw Face - my favorite face that he makes
Stretch Master
Snorter

Just because I am his mother:
Little man
Sweet Pea
Cutie Pie
Buddy Boo
Precious Boy

I am not sure what makes it acceptable to call him these names just because he is a tiny person.  Think about a situation where I call an adult Chubster.  Obviously rude.  Koala Bear?  Plain weird.  Buddy Boo?  Out right embarrassing.  But since Asher is only 2 feet long and 4 weeks old, it's totally OK to name him with these ridiculous words.

Honestly, I did not expect to be one of "those moms" who calls their child silly things.  Otha and I don't call each other things like Muffin Cakes or Sweety Bear or any pet name for that matter... thankfully.   So for me to name Asher with words other than his legal name was a bit surprising.  But I am addicted.  There I confessed... I am a ridiculous-baby-name-labeling addict.  I can't help it.  The words just fall out of my mouth whenever I interact with my son.  I need a recovery program.  Poor kid will get teased by his peers if I am not on a 5 year recovery plan; 5 years is adequate right??  Surely at age 4 he won't be completely emotionally damaged if the words Pumpkin Nugget slip out of my mouth.  Let's be honest for a moment:  Pumpkin Nugget has to be the first name obliterated from my vocabulary.  I'm embarrassed by Pumpkin Nugget.

But to prove that I am not completely crazy for wanting to describe my son, here is some evidence that I am least somewhat accurate:


Koala Bear



Mr. Struggle



Roly Poly



Big Cheeks



Almost Straw Face... imagine his lips in a more perfect tiny circle


That's all for now.  I apologize in advance, Asher, for any emotional scarring I might cause you due to my name calling.