We’re ahead of the game

Abigail is sixth on the list of the Top 10 Baby Names of 2004. Seven years ago, Susan and I were looking for a name for our first born a little out of the ordinary. A friend of mine had named his son Nathaniel, and I thought that was a pretty good biblical name. So we went trolling through the biblical names in one of those baby-naming books. I don’t remember the extensive list. But, believe it or not, when it came down to it, Susan said she didn’t want our kids to have a name that translated into a bad nickname. Abby fit the bill. She was more hesitant when I came up with Camille (a former classmate had that name and I’ve never met a not-cute Camille). The nickname options were not ideal: Cammy or Cam. I promised we’d never giver her one of those nicknames. But when some daycare teachers took to calling her Millie, I thought "the wife" was going to lose it. As she aged out, those nicknames faded away and she became Camille again. Until recently. Her current teachers are now calling her "Precious." Precious? Camille even thinks that’s her middle name. Hopefully, that’ll go away soon, too. She’s spoiled enough as it is. So, what do we call her? Not Camille all the time. It’s "Little Bit." I think Abby — even though everybody’s naming their little girls that now — got the better end of this nickname deal, even when my cousin’s around and calls her Abby Cuddles.