And he shall be called...

Posted by David:
As most of you know from telephone calls, e-mails, and the previous blog post, our son has received a name. In spite of the many complaints that we had perpetrated homicidal suspense--text message: u r killing me!--we deliberated the same amount of time as with our daughter, Ella, about two days. Honestly, since this name will have to stick for a lifetime, two days is pretty reasonable. Quickly answering the most asked questions:

1. To our knowledge, neither family has a Nicholas, nor are either of us Greek.
   
2. Heather's grandfather and great-grandfather had Alexander as a middle name.
3. Yes, we also considered Nicholas for our first baby, but Gabriella Marguerite seemed more appropriate for a girl.
   
4. Heather refuses to call him "Nick", but prefers "Nicky". I refuse to call him "Nicky", but prefer "Nicco". Alas, this will most likely be decided by the third-grade, as the playground is a cruel arbiter of nicknames and reality. Until then, we agree on Nicholas, while Ella calls him, "Brother".
5. "People of victory" and "Defender of mankind"
   
6. Yes, I realize that the last Romanov Tsar of Russia was also named Nicholas (the Second) Alexander--thank you Dr. Jesse, but no, I do not expect he and his family to be executed in the palace dungeon by a group of trigger-happy Bolsheviks.
7. Other finalists were Lucas and Atticus (from Antiquity, not Harper Lee), and at Ella's request, Leonardo. We also considered Edward for the middle name, but since Heather did the heavy lifting, her family won the legacy name game, this time.

As music lovers, we prefer names that have a lyrical quality, and a certain amount of distinction, and we consider meaning, family, and historical significance. They should also be flexible enough to last a couple of generations--how many baby girls, or boys, will be named Ainslie/Ainsley/Ainslee/Ainesly/Ainsleigh a dozen years from now? 

On a final note about historical significance, even though we are not Catholic, my favorite Nicholas of all time was probably Pope Nicholas V, who reigned a mere eight years, from 1447-1455. He was a diplomat and peacemaker, who ultimately ended the Western Schism. He was a reader and thinker, who presided over the beginning of the Renaissance and founded the Vatican Library, still today considered a formidable repository of the written word. He was an astute administrator, who filled the Vatican coffers without immediately emptying them. He was a planner, who began the process of restoring Rome from a dilapidated cow pasture to a functioning and thriving city. He was a visionary patron, who put in motion urban designs for the Rome that most people recognize and enjoy today. Of course, I do not expect all these things from my son, but eight consecutive hours of sleep would be nice. Enjoy the new pictures...

Just pulled out of his water world

Awaiting the first bath

Papa with his boy

Just the three of us

Cute little feet

Baby Burrito in his hospital bassinet.
Notice the snow flurries outside on April 10th!

In Papa's arms

Ella meets brother for the first time

Nana meets Nicholas

First kiss for brother

My girl and my boy

Ella's present from brother...

...George books

With Nana and sister

Nana with her first boy in the family

Room with a viewRocking with Mama

Eyes wide open

So cute

So cute again

Already winking at the girls

Getting ready to come home

Going home suit

So this is what clothes feel like

Ready to go home

Really ready to go home

Let's get out of here!

Off we go...

Home at last!

Meeting sister in the lobby

In the courtyard