What's in a Name?

Dearest Sweet Pea.....(Yes, it's another nickname your Diva will be calling you!)

Just two more days till we know if you are a boy or a girl.

What a wonderful world we live in to be able to take a picture of you in your mommy's tummy. Your momma was a "surprise" package. We did not know she was a girl till she arrived.

Diva was thinking pink and hoping for a little girl.

I wanted my first child to be a girl because there were no granddaughters in my family. My parents had two grandsons (Steve and Phil) but no little girls to tickle and love. My Dad (your great grandfather) had secretly told me after his second grandson was born, "I guess I'll have to wait till you get married to have my girls!"

Did you know that naming a baby is really hard work?

Diva and Papa used to watch a popular TV program called "The Waltons". It was a show about a family with 7 children. Several of the children had double names such as "John Boy" and "Jim-Bob". We were being silly one day and decided that if your momma was a boy we could name her "William Wallace" and call her "Willy Wally".

My Dad's name was Wallace and your Poppa's Dad's name was John so had your mom been a boy we had decided her name would be "John Wallace" in honor of both grandfathers.

Rebecca was a name that both your Poppa and Diva could agree on. The only Becky's we knew were people we liked, so the name had pleasant memories associated with it. I thought the name "Becky Bennetch" was the most beautiful name in the world. We wanted her name to be distinguished so we used the Biblical spelling of Rebekah.

Your momma's middle name is Joanne.

Your Papa was a school teacher when Diva met him. He was shy and awkward. He taught Physical Science and Drafting at Norfolk Christian Academy. He was befriended and mentored by a lovely lady named Jo Branning (who was a single mom raising two boys). Jo had a wonderful mind, was the head of the science department, and was always good for a free meal. So part of your momma's name is in honor of Jo Branning.

The "Anne" part of your momma's name is in honor of your Papa's dear sister Auntie Anne. Your Papa and his sister are very much alike and he deeply loves and adores her. So your Papa came up with your momma's middle name and named her after two very brilliant independent, women he admired, in hopes, she would have some of their zeal and spirit. (Boy, did he get that one right!)

I know your mommy and daddy have been thinking about your name for a long time. It will be a special name for a special baby.

I love you.....your Diva