Conference oass::babynames

    I have seen some truly "beautiful" babies; the kind that should be on
    an advertisement for magazines or baby foods.  I have seen some "cute"
    babies; not as stunning as some, but not exactly E.T.  I don't think I
    have ever really seen an "ugly" baby.  And I have seen a LOT of babies!
    
    If people APPROACH you to tell you that your baby is beautiful, I think
    it is safe to assume that she IS beautiful!  ;^)  
    
    And, of course, people are allowed to be biased about their babies. 
    Who does it hurt?
    
    Congratulations, and best of luck with Lillian; a beautiful name for a
    beautiful baby!
    
    K.C.

    Dear Lilli's Mom,
    
    You *do* have the most beautiful baby girl in the world, and so do
    I! :-)  But seriously, I know what you mean.  I asked my husband
    one night if Allyson really is as beautiful as I see her, and he
    said "Of course".  People (total strangers) stop me in shopping
    malls to tell me how gorgeous she is and I think they must really
    be sincere.  Would you stop someone with an average or even less
    than average baby and tell them how beautiful he/she is?  So I
    think it's safe to assume that Lilli is beautiful not only to you
    but all those people who've told you so.  And K.C. is right...  there
    really aren't any ugly babies out there.  Also, I remember in my
    childbirth class the instructors saying "Now don't be upset when you
    see your baby for the first time.  They always look like they've
    been through the ringer and if you're expecting a Gerber baby, you're
    in for a shock."  Well, when I got my first glimpse of Ally, the first
    thing that went through my head was how beautiful she was - even
    covered with all that guck!  So enjoy little Lilli - she'll always
    be your little beauty!  Congratulations...
    
    - Kathryn
    

I don't agree that there aren't any ugly babies...I've seen some pretty
homely ones.  (They're the ones that usually grow up into "swans").

I never thought much about babies' looks.  When my sister had a baby, she
beamed how ALL the nurses told her they never saw such a beautiful looking
child, etc., etc., ...  I remember thinking "Man is she gullible.  What does
she expect them to say?"

When I was pregnant, I truly believed that I would be objective.  I wasn't
going to go around and tell people that I had a gorgeous baby, and I certainly
wasn't going to believe everyone if they told me they had never seen such a
beautiful child.

THEN IT HAPPENED.  I TRULY never saw such a beautiful baby.  Everyone said he
looked like the Gerber baby, and he did.  Everytime I was out in public and
saw another baby, I thought s/he paled in comparison to my son.  Our birthing
class and a reunion when the babies were about 3 mos. old.  I thought some of
the other babies were ugly, and the rest were plain, ordinary.  But my son
was the only beautiful one there!  I couldn't get over how good-looking he was!
(I'm ashamed to admit, but I even entered his picture in a baby contest!)

I guess this is just nature's way.  Maybe it's to ensure that a mother won't
reject her baby, who knows.

    
    How could you have the most beautiful baby in the world when I already
    DID?  I too thought I would be objective when they put my son in my
    arms -- but alas he was and still is [one of the] most beautiful
    children to ever walk the Earth.
    
    Good luck and God Bless all of you.........
    
    Rochelle

    I am one of those people who comment on cute babies in the malls
    and grocery stores etc.  I love babies sooooo much!  But, it
    wasn't until I had *my* baby that the scales changed on which babies
    were cute.  Before I had my baby I pretty much thought all babies 
    were cute.  My mom would laugh at me, tell me I was crazy, and then
    proceed to tell me that things will change after I had my own.
    
    I hate when she is always right!
    
    Sure enough, it started when I was looking through the nursery window.
    I compared every baby to mine and I hate to admit it but they all lost!
    Now I barely even take those sneak peeks into the strollers to check
    out the other babies...
    
    After all, what's the purpose when you have the cutest! 8^)
    
    BTW- I have a neighbor who walks around the neighborhood saying to
         everyone about her baby "isn't he the cutest you ever saw?"
         My husband says he looks like a baby potato head and he is 
         really quite homely.  My neighbor just had her kids pictures
         taken for a modeling agency so he can be on Huggies commercials.
         She feels from the bottom of her heart that this is the absolute
         cutest kid in the world and has sunk big money in modeling
         agencies to prove it.
    
    Also-Liz Taylor's baby pic's are horrible!  And she is quite a beauty!
    
                                    - Sue
    

    I think all babies look like little old (wrinkled) men......although my
    wife thinks otherwise. Everything that is near and dear to each of us
    is always the most beautiful/best there is...I would hate to have a 
    parent that told me that their baby was "Ugly" that is a SICK person
    and shouldn't be aloud to have kids....Every time I talk with Friends/
    or family they each tell me how smart/good their babies are.each parent
    telling how the baby is doing this or that when the "other"babies don't
    to hear some talk you would think that at the age of 5 months the kid
    is old enough to drive(or build) a car.......I have no children yet!!!!
    (but the wife and I are still practicing)  and I'm sure ours will be 
    the smartest most beautiful child that ever walked the earth(even the 
    diapers won't stink)....but to all of you parents out there
    congrads on having the most beautiful child.......
    
                                                    BOB

    Hi,
    
    I don't have any children as of yet, but I come from a large family and
    have eleven nieces and nephews. Each one of my brothers or sisters
    thinks his/her child and/or children are the most beautiful. I happen
    to think they are all wonderful and beautiful, but beautiful in their
    own way. Every parent has every right to think their child is the most
    beautiful, after all, that child is a part of them. Mother nature works
    in some beautiful ways! But I think if some complete stranger comes up
    to you in a mall and coments on how beautiful your child is, then
    believe them, because they didn't have to come up and tell you that.
    They said that because they felt it was true.
    
    Good luck to all those who do have "beautiful" babies!
    
    S.B. (hoping to have a "beautiful" baby some day!)
    

    I believe "all babies are cute, till they grow up".  It is alright to
    believe that your baby is the cutest, smartest, nicest, etc.  But be
    careful how much you brag to others, cause when that second one comes
    along, it won't be the most beautiful, smartest, etc., because you
    already bragged how your first one was!!!
    
    I think everyone should think theirs is the best, but I don't think
    parents should force their opinions on others.  I have a sister who
    does this, and frankly, Chelsea is cute, but we certainly won't say
    anything positive about her to her mother, because it's sickening to
    lister to her.  She even goes so far as to tell my other sister (who
    has two kids), Mom and Dad (our parents) love Chelsea the best.  Yeah,
    bit**, well I am their favorite daughter, so they'll love my kids the
    most as soon as I have 'em!!!
    
    So what you think and what you verbalize outside your home, are two
    different things.  And this is something you should consider!!
    
    ALL BABIES (human and otherwise) are cute!!!!
    

    
    My husband and I have discussed this topic quite extensively.  When our
    daughter was born we were absolutely in awe of how beautiful she was. 
    Of course all the nurses told us just that.  Then - while I was still
    in the hospital - I started thinking "of course they're going to tell
    us she's beautiful - I'd kill them if they said otherwise".   Well, all
    that's really important is that we thought she was beautiful.
    
    She's now 2 years old and I look at her newborn pictures and wonder how
    I could have thought that she was so beautiful (except that I'm her
    mother and think she's the most wonderful thing in the world).  I look
    at how she's changed over the years and she really has grown into a
    beautiful child on the inside and out.  She's as cute as can be (blonde
    hair, blue eyes, very petite) but what really makes my heart stop when
    I'm around her is what's inside -- she's absolutely the MOST BEAUTIFUL
    little girl inside - creative, sweet, heart of gold, sensitive,
    intelligent, kind and gentle - all rolled into 25 lbs!!
    
    I must admit it is wonderful to have a beautiful looking child, but
    what's really important in life is what's inside and I think she is
    really going to be somebody someday - whatever that somebody may be - I
    know she will be able to pursue any dream she sets her mind to.  She
    certainly has a Mommy and Daddy that are behind her all the way. 
    
    (We have #2 on the way in about 2 weeks and she's as excited as we are
    about "helping out" with a new baby)
    
    Cindy

    
    Dear Cindy, 
         Congratulations on the pending arrival of your second...that must
    be terribly exciting since you know what's in store for you. And...I'm
    so sure that you are going to find this one to be just as beautiful as
    the first. Best of luck to you. Do you know the sex of your baby? What
    are you hoping for or does it matter? My sister is due within two weeks
    as well and I'm filled with excitement for her too.
                                                         Peace,
                                                             Lilli's Mom
                                                              (Laurie)

    Laurie -
    
    No, I don't know the sex but I must admit I'm partial to little girls. 
    I wanted a girl so much when I got Alex that I still feel blessed and
    will welcome either - a happy, healthy boy or girl will please us to no
    end.  
    
    I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about the experience again...I
    really can't wait - a totally impossible experience to describe for
    those of you out there who have never had the opportunity to go through
    childbirth.  I'm talking about both moms and dads - my husband
    absolutely loved it...and so did I.
    
    Cindy 

    re:.9
    
    Cindy,
    
    What a wonderful note!  Not only are you very lucky to have little
    Alex, but she is very lucky to have *you* for a mom.  Congratulations
    on #2, also.
    
    - Kathryn
    

    re.9
    
    I think Cindy pointed out something that is the most important. Looks
    are only skin deep and it's the beauty on the inside that makes a
    person. Some children can be very beautiful on the outside and stay the
    "terrible 2's" for the rest of their lives on the inside. 
    
    Cindy,
    
    Good luck with Alex and number 2 I'm sure they will both grow up to be
    wonderful.
    
    Serena

    When my son was born I thought he was the best looking baby I had
    ever seen.  Now he is 4.5 yrs old and when I look at his photos
    I now notice the ears that stuck out and the large bald head that
    stayed with him for so long.
    
    His looks have improved 500% as he has grown.  BUT now he is stubborn,
    independent, a little bossy, generous, kind, extremely affectionate,
    loving, prone to temper tantrums etc. etc. all rolled into one,
    he may not be perfect, but he is a normal healthy child and not
    some vision from heaven and I LOVE HIM.
    
    Jacqui

    
    Well - it's been a while and I thought I'd update here since I replied
    to an earlier note.  No. 2 is here - Jocelyn Finch Richardson - and, of
    course she's beautiful.  She's 3 months old now and just wonderful. 
    Alex is thrilled to have a baby sister and we're thrilled to have a
    happy, healthy baby girl... It really puts our life into perspective...
    and makes life that much more thrilling!!
    
    Cindy

    Congratulations to you and your whole family, Cindy!
    Little girls sure are wonderful, aren't they?  Nice name, BTW.
    
    - Kathryn