Dear Arden,
So what do you think
of your name? You love it? Great! So do your Dad and I.
of your name? You love it? Great! So do your Dad and I.
I’m writing this on
August 16th. You’re not
here yet, but I know that blogging will most definitely take a back seat to you
in the coming weeks, and I want to be sure that I get this written down. I know what you’re thinking…this woman
is the crazy planning type. Yep.
August 16th. You’re not
here yet, but I know that blogging will most definitely take a back seat to you
in the coming weeks, and I want to be sure that I get this written down. I know what you’re thinking…this woman
is the crazy planning type. Yep.
Picking out your name
was not an easy task. We had
already decided on a boys name but you threw us for a loop (a good loop!) when
we cut into that pink cake. What
was the boys name you ask? I can’t
tell you…what if you have a brother someday?!?
was not an easy task. We had
already decided on a boys name but you threw us for a loop (a good loop!) when
we cut into that pink cake. What
was the boys name you ask? I can’t
tell you…what if you have a brother someday?!?
So here’s a little
history for you. I met a kid at
church camp one year that was given his mother’s maiden name-Teague. Apparently that made an impression on
me because I have loved last names
as first names ever since. Well it
turns out that it’s hard to find surnames that aren’t too masculine for girls-and
if they’re not masculine, they don’t really sound like surnames. We even searched for many a surname meaning to find something unique pertaining to our family history. Early on I voted for Parker but your
Dad wasn’t having it. Actually,
for the first month or two of brainstorming your dad turned his nose up to just
about everything.
history for you. I met a kid at
church camp one year that was given his mother’s maiden name-Teague. Apparently that made an impression on
me because I have loved last names
as first names ever since. Well it
turns out that it’s hard to find surnames that aren’t too masculine for girls-and
if they’re not masculine, they don’t really sound like surnames. We even searched for many a surname meaning to find something unique pertaining to our family history. Early on I voted for Parker but your
Dad wasn’t having it. Actually,
for the first month or two of brainstorming your dad turned his nose up to just
about everything.
That’s how I knew we
might have something special when I came across a little gem in “The Penguin
Dictionary of Surnames”-a 99 cent Amazon purchase. We were in the middle of an 11 hour drive to Kansas and we’d already flipped through all 8 name books I had checked out
from the library. I said “how
about Arden?”…and amazingly, your Dad didn’t crinkle his nose or scoff. He didn’t say he liked it either, but I
knew that’s what it meant. So I
added it to the short list on my phone and smiled.
might have something special when I came across a little gem in “The Penguin
Dictionary of Surnames”-a 99 cent Amazon purchase. We were in the middle of an 11 hour drive to Kansas and we’d already flipped through all 8 name books I had checked out
from the library. I said “how
about Arden?”…and amazingly, your Dad didn’t crinkle his nose or scoff. He didn’t say he liked it either, but I
knew that’s what it meant. So I
added it to the short list on my phone and smiled.
Then over the next
couple months we tossed it around with others like Channing and Lennon. Then Channing Tatum came out with a new
movie called “Magic Mike” (don’t look it up) and that kind of ruined that. Then your Dad said Lennon made him
think of Vladmir Lenin…yes, a Russian communist. Well, that was out too. Truth is though I think we both knew it was Arden all along.
couple months we tossed it around with others like Channing and Lennon. Then Channing Tatum came out with a new
movie called “Magic Mike” (don’t look it up) and that kind of ruined that. Then your Dad said Lennon made him
think of Vladmir Lenin…yes, a Russian communist. Well, that was out too. Truth is though I think we both knew it was Arden all along.
Elizabeth Arden, Eve
Arden, Arden Myrin…they all checked out.
No bad associations 🙂
Arden, Arden Myrin…they all checked out.
No bad associations 🙂
And the meaning was
perfect: passionate, enthusiastic….a
dwelling place.
perfect: passionate, enthusiastic….a
dwelling place.
I also did the trusty
Pottery Barn Kids chair test. Yep,
looked perfect…
Pottery Barn Kids chair test. Yep,
looked perfect…
And at your
cousin’s softball game I tried to picture “Arden” on the back of your jersey
someday. I loved it.
cousin’s softball game I tried to picture “Arden” on the back of your jersey
someday. I loved it.
Finally, we got these
awesome fridge letters as a gift from the Griffins-and while I was off doing
something, your dad spelled your name with them. He said, “So is it official? Is this her name?” And that’s when you went from “baby” to
“Arden”.
awesome fridge letters as a gift from the Griffins-and while I was off doing
something, your dad spelled your name with them. He said, “So is it official? Is this her name?” And that’s when you went from “baby” to
“Arden”.
So there you have it. We chose your name because it’s strong, but it has such a sweetness about it at the same time. I hope you come to love it as much as
we do.
So funny…our name-list was on my phone too! 🙂
I love her name! We used a last name for our daughter too…I think it makes their names so unique!
love it! 🙂 so glad you wrote this, you know me and names!!!!
Love the name so much! Congrats! She is beautiful!
I LOVE this. 🙂 I love surnames as first names! Can't wait to meet little Arden!
I love this post. So sweet how your husband put the letters on the fridge!