As Requested

The Naming of Aftyn Kay

This story goes back, back to the time when we only just found out we were pregnant. Only a few weeks into being pregnant, I think even before morning nausea set in. I was laying next to Reed one night in bed, and the urge to name this special baby of ours only a few weeks old hit me. Maybe because we had previously had a miscarriage, with an unnamed little one and only the excitement of being a few weeks pregnant. So, for a few nights, at bedtime, we tossed names around. Mostly boy names, because I was sure, as always, that we would be welcoming an active little boy to our family. And the runner-up name, as I saw it, for girls, was Reed's choice. Adeline Kay. I didn't mind, because I was so sure we were having a boy. (I can't share the boys name because we may still use it and that would be spoiling the surprise for those of you not in the know.)

So, for weeks, the names stuck and stayed the same. Until, that is, we had our ultrasound that shattered my little world of having a boy. Because the ultrasound technician assured and reassured me that we were having a girl! I didn't feel the exclamation point at the time.

And then the uncertainty hit. Adeline? What kind of a name was that for the little girl who would be our oldest, who would need to be a strong little spirit, leading all of her brothers and sisters into this world of ours by her example? We even tried Addy, Addison, any name that could have the nickname Addy, which I decided I liked enough to keep. And then I heard someone at church calling for Addy. And I noticed out in blogging land that there sure were a lot of Addy's written about and stories shared of them. And that crushed that name choice, because I didn't want our daughter to have a name that many girls had. She needed a unique name, all her own or pretty close, not unlike her mommy.

Now Reed, from the beginning, back to the first few days of our marriage, had always liked the name Aften. (I know, kind of weird, but we've been talking baby names since the first week of our marriage. We even have a piece of paper where we've recorded all the boy and girl names that we like. They're hard to find, especially ones we BOTH like.) I thought it was too old fashioned. Kinda different and weird. And I still thought so, up until I believe it was March or February, when my Grandma Ferrell died. And I realized just how precious grandmas are. And so I wanted to carry on some part of both of mine.

At my grandma's funeral, in telling how my grandparents met, my grandma had a good friend named Aften. Who went with her to some dancing hall (a respectable one) where she inevitably met my grandfather. And on the drive to the cemetery, I saw a business with the name Afton. I know, sounds corny, but from that point on, I wanted to name our little one Aftyn Kay. For both my grandmas.

I know, I know, I didn't really name her after my Grandma Ferrell. But I feel, in a way, that I did. Luckily, when she was born, and I instantly loved and adored her, our Aftyn definitely became an Aftyn. Because she looked like one. So, in our little Aftyn Kay, will go on the legacy of 2 strong women. BTW, want to know how I got Reed to agree to the spelling of Aftyn? I gave the strong argument that it looked a little Welsh with that kind of spelling - and HE AGREED! Funny stuff, huh? Hey, whatever it takes.