What's In a Name?

On my drive into work this morning I was thinking about how my children will live up to the names we've given them. In naming our kids it was important for us to come up with names that honor our families and the people who have come before our kids and influenced either Dane, myself, or us both.

You all know that Reed was named after my mom who's maiden name was Reeds. Now, the name Reed in and of itself doesn't mean anything super special (it was a name used to describe redheads in Old English times and was later used to describe people living in sort of swampy places). But as far as honoring the Reeds family and my mom, I think my Reed is living up to his name. He is passionate and kind. He is thoughtful and curious. He is perceptive and eager to learn. My mom was also many of those traits and I know she would be so proud of him. It makes me smile to talk to him about the amazing woman his name comes from. I hope he will one day be proud of his name.

His middle name is Allen. He was given this name to honor his dad and his grandpa who both share the same middle name. Allen actually means, "handsome." And with his big brown eyes and super long lashes...well it just goes without saying that he's certainly living up to the meaning of that one ;)

Claire is only three months old and so we obviously don't know yet exactly what kind of little person she will become. I've already shared with you the meaning of her name in a previous post. Claire Irene means "clear, bright peace." In a pregnancy fraught with lots of emotion her name did bring us peace. It was a reminder that God was in control of whatever outcome.

But we can see that she is already living up to her name. She has such a bright smile and flashes it around all the time. She is a peaceful baby, fussing rarely and sleeping so well already. It appears as though she may have her dad's laid back temperament.

I hope that my kids will grow up knowing just how much thought we put into their names. I hope they are eager to learn about the people for whom they are named. My mom, my grandma...both women who influenced my life in ways I can't fully express or thank them for. Both strong, faithful women. Women who had a desire to help others and share God's love by doing.
Dane too was influenced greatly by my grandma and how she served others. She was a woman who didn't stop and shared her love (and cookies) freely. And while Dane never knew my mom she has influenced him through me and the kind of wife and mom I aim to be.

Names are something we carry for our entire lives. I've always loved my name. Mallory, original, yet not too crazy...and Catherine, classic and a connection to an aunt I love.
It's funny that Mallory actually means "unlucky" because I do believe I've been blessed greatly.

Claire will be three months old tomorrow. She is super sweet, chunky, smiley, and a rock star sleeper. She usually sleeps from about 10:30p to 5:30 or 6am. Occasionally she will wake up earlier but after she nurses she goes right back to sleep for a couple more hours. It really is a blessing, that is not lost on us. She's just so laid back...she must get that from Dane ;)

Last weekend we went to the IL State Fair. This is something Dane grew up doing every summer and a tradition we have carried on with Reed, and now Claire. It was a good weekend and Reed got to help both his grandpa and Dane's Uncle Kelly mow their lawns. He even earned $2 for helping Uncle Kelly and declared that his lawn service business is now real because it has made money. I may have to frame one of those dollars ;)

This week I went back to work. It seems that the kids new sitter is doing well with them. On Reed's first day he was happy to report that he got to help her husband mow the lawn. He will forever love them now and ask daily if he can mow their lawn again. He eats, sleeps, and breathes lawn work.

 Sibling love

 Claire's first fair

 All smiles

A hat advertising the lawn service a friend of ours works for. Reed's new favorite.