The hamster. Now you might be wondering why a hamster would deserve such a dignified name so I'm going to tell you:
This was a day of animals for our little family. It's Cole's birthday on Thursday so I thought we would go to the Columbus Zoo because he has a huge love for Elephants. I begged my sister Stephanie to leave work early and come with us and she did! We had a great time. It's a really wonderful zoo. And the boys loved having Aunt Stephy there. They fought over who got to hold her hand. lol. 
Then on the way home we decided to stop and get dinner which just so happened to be next door to a Petland. Cole the three year old says, "Mom stop it's Petland." We were far enough away that you could only see the sign which leads me to believe that he really is beginning to read. And so what's a proud Momma to do when her baby reads a sign for a first time and begs to go in the store on his birthday party day? The answer? Go in of course! So we did. We looked at the cute puppies, kittens, bunnies and birds. But Cole stopped at the hamsters. He kept saying. Awwwww......he's so cute! The store owner let him hold it and he was so gentle and sweet with the little guy. And if you know Cole gentle and sweet are not the words you would use to describe him. So my mean-Mommy-no-pets-heart melted, and I caved. A cage, food, vitamins, bedding, chew toys (who knew hamsters had to have chew toys?) and a water bottle later we walked out with our very own hamster ala Cole's birthday present.
So back to the name. Mommy got to name him. And I choose Shakespeare because without that great play-write this hamster would never have come to join our family. Mark's at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival right now performing in Macbeth and Illyria. And I know had he been here, he would have helped me keep my radar up, but alas he wasn't, and I gave in. So, honey, I'm sure this is the first you have heard of the newest member of our family. But just think, every time we say his name we think of you!
I'm just hoping inviting Shakespeare into our lives wasn't a mistake. In more ways than one.