Baby Names We Love But Won't Be Using | Just Add Ginger

When it came to deciding if we wanted to know what sex our baby was, we were in a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand we wanted to be surprised. But on the other I had had such a rough time in the early stages of my pregnancy that I wanted something extra to be excited about and be able to do simple things like go baby clothes shopping and plan the nursery. 

So the first couple of months were spent deliberating, cooing and vetoing baby names. I'm definitely not a traditionalist (couldn't be with a name like mine) so was naturally drawn towards names with a unique twist. Although we made an initial list of our ideas, Ryan and I decided that if Baby Ginger was a boy he'd get a final say in his top names, and if Baby Ginger was a girl I in turn would get the same privilege. 

Which is why I had more girl names choices than boy names. I found baby boy names so hard to pick. Girl names seem to come into my head a lot easier (which is great for the future. Although I'm 99.9% convinced that if we have any more children they will all be boys). 

So without further ado, here are the baby names we loved but won't be using. If you want to know more about some of our choices and why they ended up on the list, please watch the video below (although this list includes a few more of mine / our ideas).

Girls

Erica

Persephone 

Hermione 

Lyra 

Ophelia 

Elsie

Erin

Lydia

Autumn 

Annalise

Boys 

Hugo

Alexander

Louix 

Thomas 

Unisex 

Everest

If you have some favourite baby names, let me know in the comments.

The New Mum Tag | Just Add Ginger

Being a parent is so many things - and there are always good times and difficult times. To mark this new chapter in my life, and to indulge my curiosity about the experience of other new mums (and dads), I decided to create a brand new blog tag.

I tag Zee and Jo to do this tag too, and anybody else who has had a baby. Leave your answers or links to your posts in the comments so I can check out your answers.

1. When did your baby arrive? 

02/04/2017

2. Did you deliver early / were on time / overdue? 

Overdue! And by the end, I was so sick of being pregnant 

3. In three words describe a typical day as a new mum... 

Unpredictable. Rewarding. Challenging.

4. Who do you think your baby looks like? 

I really don't have a clue, and I'm rubbish at saying who babies resemble anyway. But some people say Baby Ginger looks like me, and others Ryan, but I just think he looks like himself

5. What has been one highlight of mummyhood so far? 

When Baby Ginger first smiled. It was at five weeks, and was so unexpected. I captured it on video too which was really special.

6. What aspect has been the hardest?

The beginning. He was really phlegmy and I wasn't able to breastfeed. It made me feel really useless and a bit of a failure. But now to see how much he is thriving makes me so happy! 

7. Have you had any hilarious moments?

When he does pee protests. They can be completely unpredictable, and because he's a boy, it can be really funny and extremely messy... It definitely puts a fun spin on nappy changes.

8. Do you think becoming a mum has changed you? How? 

I am so protective of Baby Ginger - it's so unreal the amount of love I feel for him. It has made me a lot more determined and strong and independent. There's nothing I'm not afraid to try, and I wholeheartedly throw myself into every aspect of caring for him.

9. Do you get mummy guilt? 

All the time. When he cries my heart breaks a little bit. When I go out without him I miss him, and when I know he has painful gas, it makes me feel so helpless.

Is there any piece of equipment you just couldn't live without?

Our Snugglebundl and a white noise machine Sarah bought us. They have been absolute godsends!

10. What's one dream you have for your baby?

That he grows up knowing that whatever he wants to do / whoever he wants to be / ambitions he wants to pursue, I am there to support him and help him with so much love. 

11. What's one piece of advice you would give to other new mums?

Take it all in your stride. Being a mum is so empowering but it is also bloody hard work. There will be really testing times, but there will also be really rewarding times. There are ups and downs all the time, but you are never in it alone. When you are trying to comfort a screaming baby, there is another parent out there doing the exact same thing. When you are at the end of your tether, somebody is struggling too. But the smiles make it all worth it. And never be afraid to ask for help or take time out for you - that's really, really important too!