NewPlew

We’re gearing up for the third trimester, which means we have to prepare for shower season. So far, Joanna has 3 showers lined up. One at her work, one for my side of the family, and one for her side of the family. Whether or not my office does anything is totally up in the air.

We’re opening my family’s shower up to friends as well. If you’d like to attend, feel free to comment below and I’ll make sure you get an invite (this is the only way I could think of to not miss anyone in the invitation process - I HATE forgetting people and it’s inevitable that I will miss one or two). If you’re at IUPUI, you may want to comment as I’m not sure if anything will happen on campus.

Oh, and check out Thalia’s Registry and Wish List for gift ideas and more.

I said now come on everybody, now let’s play a gaaame.

I always liked to have guys named Chuck around when we played the name game in middle school.

Anyway, we’ve been thinking about names for our little girl, and we have one we really like.

Thalia -

THALEIA (or Thalia) was one of the nine Mousai, the goddesses of music, song and dance.

In Classical times, when the Mousai were assigned specific artistic and literary spheres, Thaleia was named Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry, and portrayed holding a comic mask, or a shepherd’s staff or wreath of ivy.
–From Theoi.com (more about Thalia at the link)

It is important to me to give my daughter a unique name with a sense of history. When I think about what values I want to instill in my daughter, I think of wisdom, respect, creativity, humility, lightheartedness, a respect for the earth… I’ll stop there. “Thalia” seems to embody these values and gives them a historical context.

That, and it’s really low on the Top 1000 Baby Names in America list (#668), which is important to me. Our first name idea was Madison, which is now the 2nd most common name in America for little girls. Imagine losing your kid in a crowd, calling out their name, and having 12 little heads turn around. Not my cup of tea.

On the downside, Thalia could grow up with a “Boy Named Sue” complex - constantly having to explain her name, never finding a keychain or bike license plate with her moniker, etc. I don’t mind that so much though - being unique is something of great value.

Speaking of “Unique” - it’s #937 on the list. Can you believe that?

So, what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Don’t care? Come on people- let us know. Just remember, Thalia (if that becomes her name) will read this one day!

At her last OB visit, the doctor told Jo multiple births are a possibility based on the differing locations of the heartbeat. Her reaction was sheer horror - two kids at once! The world is coming to an end! I had a decidedly different view. Twice the horsey-back rides. Twice the “but-I-don’t-wanna-go-ta-beddd!” Twice the “daddy, can we play catch?” Twice the fun.

Of course where there could be two, three could logically be an (outside) chance as well. Jo and I have the same opinion of three: bankruptcy and destitution. A life of living out of a station wagon, drifting from town to town, aimlessly looking for naive baby sitters willing to battle three Plews at once. Okay, not really but come on - THREE kids?

Seriously though. One, two, three, or (heaven forbid) more - we’ll roll with whatever cards we’re dealt. Jo and I have been excited about these moments since day one, and each addition to the family is an equal measure of responsibility, love, and blessing.

I’m like a kid on Christmas eve-eve. Our next appointment with the OBGYN is this Friday, and we’re fairly certain we’ll find out for sure if we have just one baby on the way or if there’s two little ones swimming around in the hopper. Fatherhood is on the horizon.