[Note: I’m not going to refer to my children by their actual names in this blog in hopes of preventing future embarrassment should they ever search themselves. So, here goes an awkward attempt at writing about their names without actually using them. 😉 Their nicknames have been “Buster” and “Bean” or “Beanie” for awhile, so that’s what we’re going with.]

We struggled to name our children. The permanent-ness of the decision weighed heavily on our minds. If you decide you hate your car seat or crib, you are a trip to Target or a two-day wait on the Amazon Fairy away from something new. If you decide your parenting style isn’t working for you, change it up. With a name, there is no going back (without confusion and a lot of legal fees). So, when the twins arrived at 32 weeks, they were born nameless and remained that way for well over 24 hours (much to the dismay of our NICU nurses).

Buster’s name had been on our “short list” for most of my pregnancy. It worked with “Thomas” (the pre-determined middle name due to a long line of Toms) and we couldn’t think of any nicknames would make us hate the decision later. It means “little warrior.” So, when he entered this world at a whopping 3lbs 7.5oz, flailing all 4 limbs and rolling himself over in his isolette, it seemed to be the perfect fit. Today, it still is. He meets each day ready for adventure.

I knew my daughter’s middle name would be Mary. It was my great-grandmother’s name. Her defining characteristics were a fierce devotion to her family, an insatiable work ethic and a stubborn streak that still sparks stories twenty years after her death. The woman had some serious intestinal fortitude. I adored her.

The Hebrew translation of Beanie’s name means, “My God has answered.” When she entered this world, we knew there was a possibility that her life would come with real challenges. She needed a strong name to stay with her through them. So, she was given a name that would be a constant reminder that God answers our prayers, and a prayer that she inherited the perseverance of her namesake. There is nothing that could suit her better.

Bean has faced more challenges in two years than most encounter in a lifetime.  She meets each day with a level of grit that makes her my biggest hero.  Hang around if you’re interested in adding her to your list of folks to admire.  You can laugh and cry along with me as I describe a different version of parenthood than what I had in mind.