What's in a name?

I have been wanting to blog about this since Evie was born so here it is.
Below is a photo of the most poised, elegant, and classy woman I have ever met. (Sadly, its not me)

This is Evelyn, Nick's grandmother. But we just call her Gram.



I have always loved the name Evelyn, even before I met Nick. I had never met an Evelyn until I met Gram and I knew the day we found out our Snickerdoodle was a girl that I wanted to use Gram's name.
Now that I know Gram, Evelyn is so much more than a pretty name and I feel blessed that Evie has an opportunity to know the Great-Grandmother that she was named after.
Sometimes I wonder if Evie will inherit any of Gram's traits. I sure hope so. In fact, if I could choose something for Evie to inherit from her Great-Grandma Evelyn it would be Gram's generous demeanor. Gram gives with such sincerity and love. She has made such an effort to treat me like one of her own Grandchildren and I have been the recipient of Gram's generosity since the day Nick and I got engaged. She emails, she calls, she send cards, she never forgets a birthday or important event - she just gives and gives. I think everyday how lucky Evie is to be named after someone so special.

When I was seven months pregnant with Snickerdoodle, we officially decided on the name Evelyn. However, we really wanted to keep it a secret from Gram and surprise her when the baby was born. Gram kept asking us if we had any names and we had to lie! I felt so guilty for lying to Gram about not having any names, but I desperately wanted to surprise her. While visiting California fairly late in my pregnancy, I casually asked Gram about her name - if she liked her name, what she was called as a little girl, etc. Gram mentioned that as a little girl she went by Evie. I instantly fell in love with the nickname and knew our Evelyn would go by Evie too.

*A quick clarification about the pronunciation of Evie. Its a soft 'e' like 'ever' or 'everest.' Its not EEEEEEvie, like 'Eve' or 'even.' I know its a little confusing because both are spelled the same, but its Evie with a soft sound.

Anyway, when I had Evelyn and I looked at her for the first time I knew we'd chosen the right name for her. She's such an Evie! I don't know how else to describe it. I know she will honor her special name and someday embody the sweetness that I associate with Gram. In a way she already does. I could not ask for a better baby. Sometimes I hate doing laundry or cleaning up not because its a chore, but because I have to set Evelyn down. I could hold, snuggle, and stare at her all day every day, and to be honest I have really tried to do that as much as possible. Everyone says how fast babies grow and how I should relish every moment that she cuddles up into my neck because she won't be cuddly like that forever. Believe me, Snuggle Fest 2011 is in full force around our house. When Nick comes home from work and finds Ev and me snuggling on the couch, unshowered and smelly I don't feel guilty. In fact I mostly feel grateful. Grateful that Nick works hard so that I can stay home and be with Evelyn. Growing up I was always quick to trade my homemade cookies for whatever treat the lunch ladies had worked up. (Gross I know) I was one of the only kids whose mom was able to pack them a lunch full of homemade treats and love notes. I always came home to the smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies or banana bread and I can't remember a day that my mom didn't greet me with a smile when I walked through the front door after a day at school. I want Evelyn to have what I had. I want to be there when she comes home from school and I want to pack her sweet notes in her lunch. Being home with her is something I will never take for granted. I know its a luxury, a tender mercy. I'm hoping that five, ten, fifteen years from now when I'm pulling my hair out with frustration over Evelyn that I remember how fortunate I am to spend so much time with her.

I am so blessed. I feel honored that I get to be a mom. I feel like everyday I stay home to take care of my daughter I am round-house kicking our moral-less world in the face. Take that abuse! Take that pornography! Take that impurity! While millions of people are choosing to do wrong, I am choosing to do right. I am choosing motherhood, the highest honor anyone could achieve. I know most 23 year-old women would rather party or whatever, but there is nothing in the world I would rather do than spend time with my family. Nick and Evie make my life joyful and meaningful. And I get to experience this joy for a long time because families are forever.

Wouldn't you want to enjoy this face forever?



Or how about this face?



Yeah me too.