Name Game Journal

In the past...

We both love the idea of naming our son after our dads. Marshall & Octavio. But then his initials would be MOM or OMM. And our nephew has those same initials. We also considered Saint names. 
My #1 goal is something that doesn't translate from English to Spanish. I want it to stand on it's own. I don't want this kid to be one person to one side of the family and one person to the other side. Every BIG Saint name makes that BIG change: John/Juan -  Joseph/Jose -  Thomas/Tomas - Mark/Markos -  Luke/Lucas - Matthew/Mateo....see?

So now at mass, we'll pay extra attention to the names in the readings. One day it was Amos, that's Italian and doesn't sound completely different in Spanish. It's Amos with an accent on the O.

One thing is unfortunate for sure. We cannot name our son after my husband. His name is SO common (especially with our last name) that it causes so much trouble with international travel, customs, car registration, voting, Everything! It's so sad!! We don't want our future child to blame us for the troubles in his life due to his name (I'm sure he'll blame us for enough as it is!)

Sunday, October 7, 2013

Out to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack (will totally bring the kid here- they have a playground!) and decided to talk about names for the baby if it is a girl. We've talked about boy names before but never really girl names.

J melted my heart when he suggested naming the baby Rachel, after me! I love my name and I had been secretly thinking that would be a cool name for the baby. I also like my middle name Noel.

However, I would like a name that easily translates from English to Spanish. Something that changes in accent rather than entirety. Rachel becomes Raquel - that is a huge change in my mind. I'm stubborn and refuse to answer to Raquel. It's Rachel!

I suggested Christina. Or in Spanish Cristina. Sounds similar, one is with an accent and one is not. J suggested Caroline. He says it sounds similar in both languages. I've been leaning towards names that begin with the letter C, I'm not sure why.

We have plenty of time to think about it...

After Gender Reveal...before birth

When we found out the baby was a boy, all my name ideas went out the window. I am better at picking a girl name because I have more girls in my life, than boys. So we're back to picking boy names.

Still waiting to see what saint day the baby BOY will be born on. For now we're thinking of Marshall Jesus M. Initials MJM. Nickname MJ. Future basketball star, recording artist, who knows? But we aren't committed just yet. We still have time!

9th Month
During this 9th month my husband has become obsessed with the name Tiberius. It turns out it is a saint name so I can't argue there. But I'm not willing to give up my dad's name for Tiberius. Hubs will have to give up Jesus. So his initials will be MTM. I think Tiberius is a cool name, but it has no significance to our family history. I don't want hubby to regret that decision.

We found out if the baby isn't here soon he'll be induced on March 13th. The saints with Feast Days on March 13th are St. Agnellus of Pisa, St. Urpasian, St. Sabinus, St. Heldrad, St. Macedonius, St. Roderic and Salomon, St. Mochoemoc, St. Roderic, St. Ansovinus, St. Theusetas, St. Kevoca, St. Ramirus and Companions, and St. Nicephorus. I don't see any of those working...

Birthday!
We kept the baby's name a secret from everyone! Even our doctor. So as soon as the baby was born and we confirmed it was a boy we were asked "What's his name?!?" by all the nurses and our doctor. I was so proud to be able to say "His name is Marshall Jesus". Very very cool. 

So his initials are MJM and his name is Marshall Jesus. Well that lasted for about 12 hours. After word spread my friend nicknamed him Mar Mar, I heard my Father-in-law calling him Chuy, and my comedian of a brother-in-law met him saying "Marshall Marshall Marshall" like the "Marsha Marsha Marsha" of the Brady Bunch. I like MJ but I find myself calling him Marshall for now and it fits beautifully. 

Baby Nursery Brainstorming

Typical to my personality I am not satisfied with anything I can find in a jumbo store. While we registered at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby, there wasn't a "theme" that I loved. 

I feel it would be a huge waste to invest in something that wouldn't transition into a toddler or child's taste. Teddy bears? He'll grow out of that in a heart beat (A new mother's heart beat - wahh!! ). 

Hubby wanted a car theme but Hub's love of cars will be passed down regardless of the bedroom theme. 

I never had a brother, so I can only go by cousins and school boys. So I always think of dirty fingernails when I think of little boys. 

Etsy Vinyl  

Think Chic Dirt and you'll understand how

 I fell in love with this Lumberjack themed baby shower I saw on Pinterest 

Source

I let my imagination flow from there. 

IKEA Rug 

Not sure if we need a rug since the room has carpet.

2nd choice in IKEA duvet cover and pillow 

1st Choice in IKEA duvet cover and pillow 

I can see these easily transitioning into a toddler's bed. Since they are only the duvet and pillowcase, we don't need to worry about spills or bed wetting ruining them. These are VERY INexpensive compared to what they sell at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. 

IKEA is great, but I don't always understand the European design. For example: these fruits and vegetables with faces. I'm not a fan.

IKEA Bed Set

The following Pin-spirations are embedded from www.pinterest.com/rachelkellar/baby 
If you're on a mobile phone or device you might not be able to see the rest of my nursery inspiration. 

Decor

Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.

Baby Clothes
Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.

Baby Toys

Are we seeing the theme now?
He'll grow up around cows, horses, chickens and goats but this is another side of nature I'd like him to learn about. He's more likely to encounter a fox than an elephant (no jungle or circus themes). 
At the end of the day, raising a child is hard enough, I didn't want to over think a nursery. Being a fan of camping and the outdoors, this came natural to me and if mommy is happy everyone is happy!


Of course a part of me LOVES the "little gentleman" theme too:

Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. 

He may be a boy, but mommy still loves shoes!!

car + boy

Updating our wedding website I created this fun image!