What's in a name?

We have a name!

You've heard it before and it's not new.

It's Madeline's "boy" name, in case you remember

Craig just up and decided last night.  'Bout time, my dear!

I promise we're not those people who refuse to tell our baby's gender/name.  It's just that it usually takes the entire pregnancy to decide...ahem....Craig.

Let's back up a bit.

When we found out we were pregnant with Madeline, and had only shared the news with family (so less than 12 weeks along), I wanted to discuss names immediately, but Craig wanted to wait until we found out the gender.  Craig never wanted to name a daughter after his mother, Gabriela.  He said that was her name and her name only.  I get it, no problem.  However, Gabriel was OK for a boy.  In fact, my mother-in-law was the first one to mention the name to us.  We mulled over the name for a while.  We both liked it.  In the back of my mind, I liked Gabriel Andrew, but I never told Craig.  One day, Craig asked me if I knew of a boy name that started with "A" that could go with Gabriel.  Yes, yes I did.  You see, my dad's name is Robert Andrew, but he goes by Andy.  I asked Craig why he wanted an "A" name and he told me because Gabriel A. = Gabriela.  I was instantly in love.  Fast forward a few weeks and we find out we're having a girl.  And it took us the entire pregnancy to decide on a name and there was a giant, rear-projection TV involved in the naming process...

Fast forward a few months and we welcome a new nephew via Craig's brother, Andrew.

Fast forward a couple of years and we welcome a new niece via Craig's brother, Gabriela. (We always knew if he had a girl he'd name her after his mom).

Fast forward a few more months and we're pregnant and expecting a boy.  Craig plays his familiar antics and doesn't want to really talk names, just mull them over on his own for a while.

Recently, names have been tossed out: Reece, Jude, Travis, Cole (ahem, Craig now likes this name although he didn't when we were pregnant the first time...and he also likes Aurora now!), Maxwell, and a few others that I can't remember now.  We smush names together and honestly, I'm gravitating towards Gabriel and Jude (but not together).

I had a conversation with Gabriela's mother (my sister-in-law) back in July.  She had asked me if we had names.  I told her Madeline had a "boy name", but that Craig didn't want to use it, but that I did.  I'm sure it sounds like we're copying them by using two of their three kids first names in this child's name, but it doesn't bother me at all.  When I told Laura that Gabriel was a frontrunner, she thought it was lovely and a wonderful testament to Craig and Jeff's mom.  Having two grandchildren named after you?!?  Wow!  And Andrew is to honor my dad, no matter that we already have a nephew named that.  This is for my dad.

It's funny because Madeline Brooke has no family meaning whatsoever, we just love the name.  And Gabriel Andrew (who we will most likely call Gabe), is complete with family meaning.  All things aside, I love my kids' names, meaning or no, and I'm thrilled we have a name for our son!  We told Madeline this morning and she knows baby brother's name is Gabriel already...or Andrew.  She's getting there and we'll keep enforcing it so she can hopefully make the connection when Gabe gets here.

So, there you have it! I can't wait to meet our son, Gabriel Andrew!