What's In a Name?

The funny thing about nicknames, is that we really don't choose them - they choose us ... or our pets or our babies as the case may be.

Luella has had roughly fifty nicknames over the years. The names that we do use in any given week range from, "Lupsie Dupsie", "Lue Duperson" and "Lulie Kaboops" (when beckoning her to come hither), "Luesmella" (when she needs a bath or toots) "Luella Dickerson" (when she's dicking around with a toy or food or something annoying in bed) and "Luella Parsons MacDougal McGee Freeman" (when she's peed somewhere she shouldn't have or is otherwise in big big trouble).

Each of these names evolved over time and just sort of hung with our little Luebird. A myriad of words rhyme with "Lue" so, I won't lie, it's been a fun little game.

With Leighton, it took the better part of a year for any nickname of any kind to stick.  And, "Lei" is really the only one that works for her. I think it came more out of writing about her than anything. "Lei" or "Lei Lei" is the extent of my subconscious level of creativity regarding Leighton. She had a line of clothing from 3-6 months that had a hula theme to it and whenever she donned an ensemble from that collection she became "Lei Lei the Hawaiian Bebe". Yay mom for being so incredibly clever.

After choosing a proper name for Miss Mairin Isabel, I had a wild idea that I liked the way "Maisy" sounded for a nickname. My friend has a Mazie - Mary Elizabeth. Our kids are far apart in age, live in different cities and (as of this moment) have never met - so I felt that misappropriating the nickname would't be that big of a deal if it worked.

No need to worry. So far, it's not looking good for "Maisy".

What is working undeniably well is "Marinka Dinka". Skidamarink-a-dink-a-dink. Skidamarinka-doo. I love you.

We also frequently refer to Mairin as "Marinks Dinks" or "Marinkie Dinkie" or "Dinka" or any loving combination or abbreviation therein. This week, for me, she's simply "Dinkie".

My wee bit of babe is so easygoing, I don't believe she minds.

In the image above, Dinkie is sporting a single velcro roller in her wisp. She was helping big sis ready herself for her debut as flower girl at Uncle Jon and Auntie Susan's wedding this past weekend.

Comments

[Jen]

I completely forgot that I went through a whole phase of calling Leighton "Punky" and/or "Punksatony". I still pull those out from time to time.

[Jen]

She's so NOT a kristy! :) I forgot that I call Lei "Punky" and " Punksatony" all the time too. Those obviously don't even start with "L". Ha!

[Aunt Cindy]

When deciding on a name for baby number three I loved the name Kristine and was sure I would call her Kristy. Never did, not even once. Like you experienced, it just didn't fit.