Cutie Patootie

For whatever reason - and I don't think we're unique in this respect, either - Penny and I seem to give our daughter nickname after nickname, and all of them seem to rhyme. It's fun every time, but the really fun part is how easily different baby character traits align with various female names.

(If you happen to have a son, you'll have to let us know if boy names work as well for the impromptu rhyming nickname. Somehow I doubt it.)

For example, when hanging out with Veda, you have to watch out these days because although we don't see any teeth yet, she's suddenly and now frequently Drooly Julie. And that's fine; we're well supplied with bibs and burp cloths, but you also have to watch out for her to become Messy Bessie, or eventually even Dirty Gertie. (If Farty Marty makes an appearance, you know the clock is ticking.) Pretty soon you'll have to change her, which she kind of enjoys on account of the opportunity to be Nudie Judy. (We're planning on teaching her discretion at some point in the future. For now we just giggle alongside her.)

After she's changed, though, it might be a good time for her to take a nap. Keep an eye out for Snoozin' Susan there, followed perhaps by Snorin' Lauren. Either one is better than what you get if she needs a nap and hasn't had one - nobody's a fan of Yellin' Helen.

But in the end, we all want the same thing. A visit from Smiley O'Reilly. And even though this particular nickname doesn't correspond to a *first* name, technically, ol' Smiley's just so charming that you don't hardly mind making an exception.