Well, we decided that with a few days to go, it was time to lock down a name for this new child.

We were at a draw so Julie and I arm-wrestled for it.  But that hardly seemed like a fair win.  It’s not like I haven’t been sick for a week. :0

So after I cried foul, I devised a new, deviant plan of attack.  Never underestimate the power and persuasion of a banana cream pie milkshake from Sonic. ;)  Especially with a Rutledge.  Man, I???ve never seen such sweet toothes as Jul’s family.  And somehow, she has great teeth – go figure.

It’s funny how the progression of naming has panned out for us.  Like a sliding scale of urgency.

Jonathan David was named probably before the pink lines had dried on the pregnancy stick.  Good thing he was a boy!  Lauren Elisabeth was early too, probably 2-3 months.  Nicole took some time.  Our business at the time was in total upheaval, so we didn’t have the emotional resources for such a delicate task.  We arrived at Nicole (victory) and Renee (rebirth) for the appropriate meaning for that time in our life.  Olivia Elise was pretty close to the wire – somewhere around the last few weeks.

Given the ultrasound was late – at 24 weeks – and not only clearly was void of sausage but clearly showed pancakes, we have chosen a girl’s name.  My mother insists, if by will power alone, that we will indeed have our boy bookends.  If we should have a boy, he’s not going to like his name very much, but like the Boy Named Sue from Johnny Cash’s hit, he should be pretty tough from getting his butt kicked early and often ;0

The name?  Come on!  You didn’t think I was going to spill the beans did you?  Not yet.

Ok, here goes a Darbo sidetrip.  What the hell does spilling the beans have to do with telling somebody a secret?  And did you see the movie ‘Something About Mary’ where Ben Stiller zips up his ‘frank and beans’?  HAH!  That was funny.  Not the zipping mind you – that is NEVER funny.  Stop laughing ladies.  Seriously, stop it, that is so NOT funny. ;)  But the kid brother laughing and calling it ‘frank and beans’ – that is gut-busting.  Cya!

Author | Dave Darby

Dave Darby is a husband, father of 5, son, entrepreneur, speaker and well, a renaissance man who frequently needs to dump his brain on thoughts about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.