What's in a name?

I absolutely love Josh's name! I mean, of course I would because I gave my child that name, but Joshua really is one of my favorite male names. And his name is even more special because he has his dad's middle name of David. Since Josh is now at the point where he recognizes his name I have been thinking a lot about names. I wonder what children think of their names at their youngest. There are plenty of people who hate their names as they get older.

I would say I am a traditionalist when it comes to names. Joshua had always been a name I planned on giving a son of mine. And if Josh had been a girl, his name would have been Sarah, even though both of our mothers objected. Biblical names have always been special to me. I was always envious of children who had Biblical names because I knew how special those names were (maybe that was the beginning stages of preparing me for ministry ;) ). I was blessed to have a Biblical middle name, but I was given my middle name because it was a family name from both sides of the family. Josh must be extra special to have two Biblical names!!

Nowadays, the trend seems to be trendy names, unisex names, or names with multiple spellings. I remember when these so-called trendy names popped up. I was in middle school playing MASH (a very popular game we played that planned your future for you) with girl friends and planning out our futures and talking about kids saying I was going to name my sons Parker and Hunter (I have always planned on having 3 kids - 2 boys and a girl). Well some of those names have stuck around, but for me they were a phase like I am sure they have been with some people.

Another thing that gets on my nerves is names that go for a boy or a girl. I remember going home from the first day of third grade and telling my mom that there was a boy named Ashley in my class. It troubled me! We then went through a long conversation about names that were okay for boys and girls: names like Courtney, Ashley, Leslie, and Cameron; names I would never give my child. It is probably such a self-esteem buster when you are a little boy named Ashley and are in elementary school and all these kids come up and tell you that you have a girls name. Kids can be mean, and that is a child who will forever be picked on.

I am just as passionate about names that have multiple spellings. I was so confused when I first realized the name Megan had at least four spellings. You can spell it M-e-g-a-n, M-e-g-h-a-n, M-e-a-g-h-a-n, or M-e-a-g-a-n. And I am sure there are some other funky ways to spell that name. There are also other numerous names you can spell in odd ways, and just odd names. Now I know how teachers must feel on the first day of school when they look at the roll and pray that they don't misprounce the names with all the weird spellings!

But each person has their own preferences! I am thankful to be a traditionalist and to have given my son a name that is easy to pronounce. And when people see his name on class rosters, they will know he is a male; not have to wonder if this child is a boy or a girl. Each of my subsequent children will have traditional names appropriate to their gender. And this blog is nothing against people who like these names or have given them to their children. It is just my personal opinion; my likes and dislikes. It is just my thankfulness that I love the names I do. I just prefer girly names for girls, and masculine names for males. My choice is just for traditional names, and narrowed down even further to Biblical names (that really limits my choices, especially when it comes to girls!) Everyone is entitled to their own choices, and I have nothing against that. Just like each family can choose how to raise their children. Please take no offense to my rant, and if you have, I sincerely apologize!

What's new with the Baird family

Things have been really busy around the Baird household. That explains why I have not written recently. We are packing up and preparing to move. I am so excited to finally be taking my own churches! This truly is an answered prayer.

Over the past few weeks things have been crazy. I had to go to licensing school. Tomorrow I leave for annual conference. There was some collecting and pricing of items for a yard sale. Round 2 of the yard sale may continue this weekend. We have been cleaning and packing like crazy. The official count is 12 boxes packed, and so much more to go. We move 3 weeks from today! And my first Sunday in our new churches is July 4. This Sunday I preach for the last time at the church we have been at. Next Sunday is our last day at that church. And then the weekend of the 27th we are going to spend our last weekend at our first home, and finish getting ready for our move.

And of course Josh has chosen to accomplish some pretty big things in time for the move. Josh started rolling over onto his tummy a few weeks ago. Last week he managed to roll back onto his back. He also has started to crawl! We are so proud of him. Crawling took a few days. He started by getting up on his knees. Then a couple days later he figured out how to get his arms ready to crawl. Then the next day, he managed to move a little forward. It figures that he would learn how to crawl in time for the move. He is still working on cutting several teeth. His first one has poked through the gums! And Josh loves to stand. He can move forward with someone holding his hands! He will be walking before we know it. Josh also talks like crazy! It still is gibberish, but we know his first word isn't too far away!

We can't wait to see what the next few weeks and months hold for us. We are all so excited! Josh will begin doing some even bigger things. And Mommy will be doing some big things, with Daddy and God's help, at her new churches. I just hope we get through the move quickly and easily with no problems. And I hope Josh makes it fine through the move, and adjusts to his new surroundings nicely. I will write again before the move. Now, back to cleaning and packing.