Stewie was in fact not meant to be Stewie's real name, but just a pregnancy nickname. We had a 'proper' name picked out for him (see photos of us going through our serious and not so serious name suggestions ‘raffle style’ - because everything can be turned into a game), but he became so solidly known to everybody as Stewie, to the extent that several people (including our mothers and ourselves) expressed concern about remembering to not call him Stewie after he arrived. We promised to send his official name in writing so it could be rehearsed and remembered. But to be honest, there's a real chance he may have ended up with the nickname Stewie forever anyway... 

As it is, Stewie is and will always be his name. It was and is completely his identity through and through, and this identity and the character that developed alongside it contributed to him being such a significant and present part of every single hour and day we spent with him. 

But how did the name Stewie come about?

It was rather simple really.

At our 20 week scan we found out we were having a boy, which was met with surprise and laughter having expected a girl - but genuine excitement. From the sonographer we received a rather matter of fact 'well it was a 50/50 chance...' Sure thing. 

We also found out his head size was measuring at the 93rd percentile. This was met with a bit more alarm, and our exclamation that we'd created a giant baby was answered with 'don't worry it's under the 95th percentile'. A very reassuring 2% margin there... 

But no matter, these things change, and as it happens it inspired the nicknaming of our baby.

Adam suggested with delight nicknaming him after Stewie Griffin from Family Guy, the enormous headed dungarees wearing cartoon baby that talks with his pet dog and sports disturbing accessories like laser guns. At first this suggestion was met with outrage (as many suggestions are), but that quickly fizzled out and it was decided - our baby was to be nicknamed Stewie, and what a good decision that was.