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  • what’s in a name

    Before David and I knew we were having a girl, we only had a boy name picked out. We hadn’t even considered girl names because we didn’t think we could have one. Then the ultrasound happened and everything changed.

    There are so many girl names that I love, but it didn’t take me long to decide that I didn’t want just some name that I like, but something deeper, with roots. I wanted a family name. In the end, we chose:

    Meredith

    Meaning & Origin: Protector of the sea, English/Welsh
    Popularity: Number 488 in 2009 down from 276 in 1999.

    Why we chose it: David’s paternal grandmother was named Meredythe, and although we think that way of spelling it is beautiful, we both are in favor of spelling names the traditional way for simplicity’s sake.

    Susannah

    Meaning & Origin: Lily, Hebrew
    Popularity: Not in the top 1000 names for the last ten years.

    Why we chose it: Susan is a family name on both sides, including my grandmother’s nickname, my mother’s middle name, and David’s aunt. We changed it to Susannah to add a unique touch.

    Choosing a name was such a hard thing to do, and even now I second guess myself, but I don’t think we will find another one that fits quite so well. In our minds this is who she is, and we can’t wait to meet her. :)

  • Question of the Week: My iPhone

    Welcome to the question of the week, where I put up a poll, hopefully on Monday, about any random thing, and you answer! Sound good?

    Okay, so today I need advice about a fairly trivial matter. I’ve been thinking about what to do about my iPhone, and I just can’t make a decision. I have a 3G which is over 2 years old that is running the new software and is therefore veeerrrrryyyyy slllloooooowwww. It is driving me crazy. I am due for an upgrade so I don’t have to pay that fee, and I don’t care about signing a new 2-year contract.

    However, we are trying really hard to save money. I’d love to upgrade to the iPhone 4, but as of right now that would still cost me $199 and I can’t justify spending that much when my current phone still works. My other options are to upgrade to a refurbished 3GS for $19 or a new 3GS for $49. BUT. What if Apple releases a new iPhone version in June or July, and then the iPhone 4 is significantly cheaper? Should I wait and see? I don’t know!

    iPhone users and lovers, what would you do? Let me know by answering in the poll below, which will close in a week. Any other ideas or opinions, please leave in the comments. :)

    [polldaddy poll=4755154]

    P.S. I’ve considered giving up my iPhone altogether to save money, but it has become an integral part of my life. I also don’t want another type of smart phone!

    Edited to add: The results were overwhelmingly in favor of me waiting for the next generation of iPhones to come out! So I’m working on my patience and in the meantime I’m going to wipe my phone clean and start again to see if that will help it run faster.

  • twenty-two weeks

    22 weeks

    I got dressed up! For a wedding! Even wore heels!

    Symptoms: Thankfully my headaches have gone away, my appetite is normalizing, and for the most part I’m feeling great. However, after every meal I get extremely uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s because I ate too much and my abdomen feels like it will explode, but mostly it’s an aching upper back. I’m not sure what’s up with that. The newest thing is that every morning when I wake up my hands are asleep. I try so hard to sleep on my side, but I always end up on my back. Apparently pregnant women can develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Recently my hands have also started to tingle when I’m sitting on the bus for awhile. I hope and pray it doesn’t get worse because I NEED my hands to do my job.

    Medical stuff: This past month I only gained two pounds after gaining eight the month before that. Women’s bodies are weird and erratic I guess, but I was happy that I didn’t keep gaining at that rapid rate. Everything is pretty much normal right now, including the baby’s anatomy scan which was a relief!

    Movement: Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes I feel this rolling sensation, and I guess it’s probably baby moving around, but I can’t be sure. My placenta is on the front of my uterus, cushioning the baby’s kicks from my belly, so they said it would take longer for me to feel.

    Clothes: I haven’t bought anything new yet, but there is one pair of scrubs that doesn’t fit right anymore so I’ve retired them. When I’m not wearing scrubs I like to put on outfits that actually make me look pregnant and not just bloated.

    Preparation: We’ve been pricing and even begun touring daycares, since as it turns out my mom won’t be able to retire yet after all. I started reading The Birth Book by Dr. Sears. I posted ads for Oliver on several websites (although no responses yet). I went to a La Leche League meeting and plan to go monthly if I can. We started working on our budget. Two short vacations are scheduled and planned. I spoke to my manager about the maternity leave policy and acquired the necessary paperwork. I’ve done more than I realized!

    Also: We chose a name! Stay tuned to find out what it is. :)

  • Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

    As I’ve been reading more and more book blogs lately, I’ve come across a style that I like best. I first saw this format used by Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness, and have decided to use it for my book reviews from now on. I also want to say that I don’t claim to be especially good at writing reviews, and mine aren’t going to be particularly deep or literary, but since I enjoy knowing what my friends think of a book I thought you might too.

    Title: Same Kind of Different as Me
    Author: Ron Hall & Denver Moore
    Genre: Memoir
    Year: 2006
    Acquired: Borrowed from the library
    Rating:

    One Sentence Summary: The true story of a wealthy couple who become deeply involved with a homeless mission and the unlikely friendship that develops between them and one of its residents.

    One Sentence Review: A challenging, heart-wrenching story that made me think about myself & my world, my faith & marriage, and want to be a better person.

    Why I Read It: This month’s book club pick.

    Long Review: The book intertwines the story of Ron and Debbie Hall, a couple who became wealthy through the profession of art dealing, and that of Denver Moore, who grew up as a sharecropper’s son in what amounts to modern-day slavery and eventually ends up on the streets of downtown Fort Worth. As Ron and Debbie grow wealthier, they also grow apart to the point where their marriage nearly crumbles. But after an incredible act of forgiveness and revitalization, they become closer than ever and throw themselves into volunteer work at the inner city homeless mission where they meet Denver. Although he is hardened and hostile, Debbie has a vision for him and doesn’t give up until they have forged a forever friendship.

    There are so many themes running through this story: marriage, homelessness, prejudice, pain & suffering, forgiveness, and faith, and my heart was touched by each one. I think one of the main messages was how one person can make a difference when there is incredible faith. Because Debbie saw Denver through God’s eyes and looked past his scary external appearance, he was changed and so was the city.

    (Spoilers ahead!)

    I don’t think it’s possible to read this story and not be moved. Debbie’s forgiveness of Ron after his affair, her amazing dedication to her vision for the homeless population of Forth Worth, and her subsequent battle with cancer had me crying many times over. It made me ashamed of my own prejudice, and I spent a lot of time thinking about what I can do to reach out. It also made me appreciate my marriage even more and redouble my efforts not to take my husband for granted.

    In the end, it’s just the story of a few people and how their lives were changed by each other. As Ron says, “Even with my $500 European-designer bifocals, I cannot see into a person’s heart to know his spiritual condition. All I can do is tell the jagged tale of my own spiritual journey and declare that my life has been the better for having followed Christ.”

  • Ten On Tuesday: Names

    This week’s questions, hosted by Chelsea as always, are especially apt for me since I’m in the process of trying to choose a name for my daughter. I couldn’t resist answering them!

    1. How did your parents decide on your name?
    The way I remember it, they had a waitress at Bennigan’s named Kathleen and liked it. Fitting for an Irish restaurant. As for my middle name, Alexandra, it is after my grandfather who’s middle name is Alexander.

    2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?
    Nope! I used to be KACS (my mom’s maiden name was one of my middle names) and now I’m KAF.

    3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name?
    I took my middle name from childhood because I just really like it and thought it sounded best. I also wanted to symbolically give myself completely to my husband even with my name.

    4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin, etc.)
    I don’t think so. The only thing we might do is go with all names with family significance.

    5. Did you decide on baby names as a child? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
    Definitely not as a child, but I had some names I liked starting in high school. I still like those names, but not as much as I used to.

    6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?
    There are a ton of Davids in my family including my uncle and brother (and husband). My dad’s name is Christopher Barry and my other brother’s name is Barry Christopher. My middle name is for my grandfather. My mom’s name is Paulina because her dad was Paul and her mom was Ina. There are probably more that I’m forgetting too!

    7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
    I probably wouldn’t choose a name based on meaning but when I do like to know what names mean and it makes them that more special. Kathleen means “pure” and I have always treasured that.

    8. Do you name pets with human names or with pet names?
    Ours all have human names: Eddie, Cleo, and Oliver.

    9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
    Yeah, I mean I wouldn’t name my children any of my ex-boyfriends’ names for one. I think it’s unavoidable.

    10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
    I’m not going to share my absolute favorites since we’re in the process of choosing a name for our baby, but in general I like classic and Biblical names, nothing too unique or trendy.