They've Procreated!

Okay I lied. I said the next post was going to be about Brandon's branch of the Unit... and I guess it is... kind of (sorry Jason, sorry Sue, sorry everyone else! Your turn is coming soon :-)). Specifically, tonight's post is an important announcement about the old married pair in our wedding party - Bridesmaid Lorraine and Groomsman Lanny... well really it isn't about them either as this post is about, and please provide a drum roll if you will, the birth of their (gulp, tear, sniffle) child on November 24 at 10:45 am. Mom is doing well.

Now there was debate as to what was going to come out... boy, girl, Pindrop, Monkey, Extra-Terrestrial (I had concerns...), but what came out was beautiful and just as the poll predicted - it's a boy (pass the blue cigars)! Therefore, I would like to welcome to the non-official wedding party of my heart Mr. Carter Landon Gray, weighing in at an impressive 6 lbs, 13 ozs.

My first reaction was to cry. I am a bit of a dork, we all know that, but it was rather exciting in an overwhelming kind of a way... I cannot imagine if I had been on the whole "I'm a parent now" end of the equation - I would have been a wreck!

The Unit: Lorraine (AKA The New Mom!) is the lovely lady on the left... 

Now for those of you who are wondering where the pictures are... well they are not here. I can steal one off of Facebook, but that isn't really the same and besides that I want to ask permission first... therefore expect a picture at some point between now and the next 18 years (if Lorraine and Lanny say no, I nonetheless figure I will have spoiled Carter enough by the time he reaches the age of majority that he will let me post his picture).  FYI though to prepare you… I cried when I saw him (via a picture), primarily because unlike a number of new borns he does not have the squished "extra-terrestrial" look that they sometimes get... not that they are less cute, but realistically when they have that style going on they are not quite recognizable as humans.

I feel sad that I haven't had an opportunity to do any baby research for this aside from point out that both Carter's first and middle names are apparently popular boy names for 2009 in Canada (for more information please visit: http://www.thinkbabynames.com/popular/1/canada). The list is actually fascinating to look at, i.e. did anyone realize that Jaxon with an X was popular this year? I would never have guessed that in a million years, but nonetheless it ranked in the top 100 and when you are dealing with a population over 30 million you have to assume that there are going to be a lot of Jaxon's running around as a result.

However, as my Googling managed to remind/impress upon me it doesn't really matter if you end up as a "Jackson" with an X because if you think of some of the weird and wonderful handles that celebrities have forced upon their children over the years anything short of "Kangaroo Lad" should make you happy. 

Take for instance Jason Lee's son "Pilot Inspektor" - I mean seriously how do you go to school and socialize with others with a name like that... what's your nickname? Pie? Pek? P.I.? 

Or what about Sylvester Stallone's offspring (brace yourself) - Sage Moonblood.  Honestly, how much do you have to hate your child to name him/her something like that?  And besides when you name a child you have to think about what their name would look like on letter head... for example:

Sage P. Moonblood Accountants and Vampires at Large

Don't worry we only suck your blood, not your money.

Basically I don't even have a further comment on the letterhead, I feel it speaks for itself.

Or even Penn from the comedy duo Penn and Teller, can you guess for one second what his child is named?  I bet you can't... He named his child Moxie Crimefighter - frankly that's a lot of pressure... I don't advocate violence or being a criminal, but I think with a name like that you're trying to set your kid up to be Spiderman, Superman, Wonder Woman, or (as you all know) my all time favourite Batman.  PLUS in addition to having to fight crime you need to do it with moxie?  I don't think any psychiatrist can help with that kind of pressure! 

Now between the Inspektors, the Moonbloods, the Crimefighters, and the wacky names we are more familar with (as per the tabloid television filling the airwaves) such as Coco, Ocean, Apple, and Blanket (etc... etc... etc...) you have to wonder how we still manage to have room and appreciation for the Carters, Landons, Ethans, and Johns of this world... but thankfully we still do (for more information please visit: http://www.cracked.com/article_15765_20-most-bizarre-celebrity-baby-names.html), which is why I am giving Lorraine and Lanny two thumbs up on name choice!

For those that are curious, and as I said I haven't really had the opportunity to do much research (cough), tonight I learned that Carter means pretty much what it says it does "driver of a cart". It is of English origin and often used as a last name, but lately (as is proven by the top 100 list) it is becoming a common first name... I found the meaning of the name Landon interesting as it is also English, but instead means "from the long hill". 

Pre-Carter... One of Their Last Nights of Rest for the Next 18-ish Years...

Lorraine and Lanny

Okay... it is late and while I napped for eons when I got home from work, which is why I am up now, I feel it is time to stop my Googling for the evening.  Nevertheless, I wish to end on the high note of excitement and promise a new baby brings to the world and how pleased/excited I am that I will be able to watch Lorraine and Lanny raise Carter – even if it is a "long hill"…

Brandon and I both send you our love and please know that we are here for you if you need anything!