What's in a Name...

Carter Anderson Harwood

How did we come up with this name?? Well let me just say coming up with a boy name was HARD! Even frustrating at times! See ever since I was in elementary school, I knew what my daughters name would be some day. But a boys name, I didn't have a clue. Add in that Kevin wouldn't even talk about baby names until we were pregnant. It was actually always a joke. I would be like ohhh what do you think of this boy name. And he would never have an opinion; said he wouldn't until he had a boy to name. Silly Kevin!

Well the day came and we found out we were pregnant, so of course I was ready for Kevin to come up with some boy names he liked. Finally over a few weeks he looked through some baby name books. BUT we could never agree on a name! There were some I liked that he thought were "ok" but not good enough in his mind. So at times, I was like man we better have a girl since we can't come up with a boy name!!

Finally there were a few we were throwing around and in the end we came up with Carter! I think we always both liked the name Carter, but I think Kevin started to like it more, once we realized that Carter was actually a family name too! It was Kevin's great-grandfather's name on his dad's side. His grandfather, who passed away last year, dad's name.

And then Anderson is my mom's maiden name. So obviously it has some significance to my mom, but when I think of the name Anderson I think of my mom's dad. He passed away when I was a junior in high school and I loved him dearly! Honestly I still miss him so much to this day! I wish Kevin could have gotten to know him, he was such a great man! I loved my granddaddy!! 

The two middle names I always contemplated were Anderson and Adams (my grandmother's maiden name (mom's mom)). But I just really wanted Anderson so I could honor my granddaddy as well as my mom and grandmother! We were always close with the Anderson family growing up too! We got together monthly for Saturday dinner or Sunday lunch to celebrate someone's birthday! Its a big family as my mom has 2 sisters and a brother! So we were always really close with all of them, so that name means a lot to me!

Also neat side note about Carter is that a couple of months ago unfortunately Kevin's grandmother passed away (his dad's mom). While we were in Alabama going through her place, Kevin's dad pointed out a chest and said that it was his grandfathers chest, Carter Harwood's. He asked Kevin if we wanted it. Kevin immediately said yes and told me, see if we name our son Carter, how neat will it be for him to have something of his great-great-grandfather's that he shares a name with! So after that, I was sold on Carter! It will be neat for our son to have that!

So Carter Anderson Harwood! We are so excited for you to come into this world and bless us! Naming you was such a huge responsibility as it will be with you for the rest of your life and beyond!