Today was Knox's baby naming ceremony, and it was perfect! Such amazing people, great food, successful set-up, and perfect baby! Here's the letter we read to Knox explaining the meaning and symbolism of both his English and his Hebrew names (A means I read, S means Sam read):
Knox,
A: Today is your baby naming, where your family and our friends
surround us, welcoming you to the world. You are probably not really aware of
all the love in this room right now, but one day, we hope you know just how
truly loved and wanted you are! You are probably also not aware of how
sleep-deprived we are, so I’m hoping that this letter makes since because your
name is very important to your dad and me. We put a lot of thought into it, as
so many of the people in the room know! When we found out that we were having a
boy, one of the very first thoughts after “Oh my God, are you kidding me?!” was
“How will we ever come up with ANOTHER boy name!?” Daddy and I laughed about
how we had all these girl names in mind but no boy names on our lists any more.
Names are extremely important to us. Having the honor and privilege of choosing
the perfect one for you was no easy task and not a decision we took lightly.
Both your English and Hebrew names were given to you with lots of thought, and
we hope you will take pride in using the names we’ve selected for you.
A: The meaning of your middle name, “Morgan” is pretty symbolic. Before
I tell you about it, I want you to know that Daddy and I aren’t the only ones
who had ideas for what your name should be. From the first time they ever knew
we had a baby on the way, your brothers wanted to give name suggestions. The
first name from Banner that really stuck was Dolphin. He came up with other
names later on: Cameron, Jacob, Evan... but Dolphin was the first. Trust me, I
tried. I tried to incorporate that name, looking up words that meant “dolphin”
or even considered the name “Dolphine” – for about 5 seconds. Then, one day, I
saw Morgan on a list of names for boys. I’ve always loved that name, but I
hadn’t really considered it a “boy name” as I knew only girls with that name.
Yet, one of Daddy’s favorite actors is Morgan Freeman, and a male character on General Hospital is named Morgan. So, I
started to consider it, especially loving that it IS gender-neutral. When I looked
up the meaning of the name, I knew it was for you. “Morgan” comes from the Old
Welsh masculine name “Morcant”. “Mor” meaning “sea” and “cant” meaning “circle”
or “completion.” This became perfect for you. I’m 90% sure you are our last
child, helping complete our family circle. In addition, Daddy and I love the
sea – our most favorite vacations are cruises and being on the water. And, I
have to point out, the best part: dolphins live in the sea.
S: You also have a Hebrew name, Chanan Chaim. These names were chosen
for you by your mom and by me to honor the memory of two very special people in
our lives. Because you won’t get to meet these special members of your family,
we want to tell you about them now and let you know how you came to get this
special Hebrew name.
A: My grandmother, Rosalie, was a nurturer in every sense of the
word. She was always there for me and all of her family in times of need and in
times of celebration. I can’t think of a time when Grandma wasn’t nurturing
members of her family in some way.
The Thanksgivings, the Seders, the Hanukkah parties, yes, but the
mundane meals in her kitchen. Those were the times I could tell she just really
enjoyed having us there. I even have a memory of her bringing spaghetti to the
table as she talked about how it’s her joy to have all of us to cook for. The
snacks after naps, the bagels in the morning after a sleepover at her house,
the treats she’d bring us when she’d pick us up from school. She nurtured us
with food.
There were the days she came to stay with me because I was sick and Mom
couldn’t take another day off work. She even assured me it was okay to eat the
toast on Passover if I was sick. She kissed boo-boos, calmed itches with
Campho-Phenique, and applied ice when we needed it. She took temperatures and
cooled our foreheads with wet cloths. She nurtured us to heal.
Grandma wasn’t afraid of emotion. She would cry while reading our
birthday cards to her, she’d let us know when she was upset with how we were
treating our siblings, and she’d tear up while saying the blessings over the
candles at Seder. Once, when I was a sophomore in high school, I was home sick
on the same day a beloved character on General
Hospital (our “story”) said his final goodbye as he died from AIDS, a disease
that hit close to home. The phone rang shortly after the emotional scene, and I
knew it would be her. “You okay?” she said through tears. “I am. Are you?” I
replied in a cracking voice. I’m not sure who needed that call more, but we
cried together. She nurtured us with emotion.
So many of my memories are when Grandma had to step in when Mom
couldn’t be there. One in particular is when Mom was in the hospital recovering
from surgery, and Grandma was at home with Uncle Brock, Aunt Kira, and me. It
was snowing or raining – I’m not sure which – I was about 4 years old. Either
way, we were all piled in bed with Grandma, and again, my vivid memory is of
her with arms around us – probably annoyed at her lack of space and being up in
the middle of the night – but laughing through it no less. She nurtured us by
being there.
The family trips, the incessant weather reports, the realization that Pretty
Woman was not an appropriate movie for a 9-year-old, the bra shopping, the unsuccessful
search for the Alamo… she nurtured us with laughter.
I could go on and on, because Grandma was and continues to be such an
important person in my life. I wish my children had gotten a chance to know
her. And I wish she had a chance to meet you, Banner, & Quinn. But, she
lives on in us and, Knox, your own grandma is so much like mine and I love that
you are developing a strong bond with her at this young age.
The Hebrew name, Chanan, is in memory of my Grandma and it means
“compassionate/gracious.” Grandma had to be compassionate in order to nurture
us and her relationships with us. She cared, genuinely cared in every since of
the word, for her family. I hope you, too, will care for, nurture, and show
compassion to others in your life. In some ways, you already do that in the
most fundamental way a human can. You look at us and smile. Your eyes fill with
delight when you see me, Daddy, your brothers. You light up and give back that
love we are showing you. I hope you will always look at others with such a
strong acceptance and nurturing love.
S: To be honest, I had a lot of trouble deciding what your second
Hebrew name should be and whom you
should be named after. I told Mommy that I personally hadn’t endured a loss
since we named Quinn – a fact for which I am grateful – and I considered
another route. I originally said to Mommy that I didn’t want to name you after
anyone, that I didn’t like the idea of naming you after someone who had died
when I really wanted to just focus on life. Mommy responded that this is the
reason Jews name their children after someone who has died, so that they may
live on in some way. And that was how we came up with the second part of your
Hebrew name: Chaim, which means “life.” It represents the full life we hope you
have while also allowing one of the most important people in my life to live
on. This special name is in memory of my mom, Leslie. I am proud to share this
name with you, as “Chaim” is also the second part of my Hebrew name – which
means it is a special gift from your Bubbie, who selected it for me and for
whom you, like Quinn, are named. Bubbie was an amazing friend, a trustworthy
mentor, and brought the light of vibrant life everywhere she went, instilling
it in everyone she knew. So today, Knox, Mommy and I bestow upon you this name,
in mourning of the life Bubbie didn’t get to live out, in celebration of the
health and happiness our friends and family have enjoyed these last several
years, and in honor of what a blessing it is to have you here, to be here with
you, and to cherish all the momentous and mundane miracles your life will bring
you.
A: You may have noticed that we haven’t mentioned the name you will
most often be called: Knox. Well, that’s mostly because your first name,
admittedly, was selected more for its visible strength and its sound, than for
its meaning. But as we’ve gotten to know you, and to contemplate your name, we
believe it’s perfect for the life we hope you lead.
S: “Knox” means “round hill” or “from the hills,” a place where the
land goes up and down – back and forth. Not from treacherous mountains, nor
from vapid plains, but from a place you still have to work to traverse. A place
providing some shelter but holding you still responsible to protect yourself. A
topography not lightly taken, but not overbearing. Mommy’s family and my own
have worked hard to make a life for you in this world, and we’re lucky to have
more than many people: in love, in family, in friends, in comfort, and in
general. Mommy and I toil and sacrifice every day so that we may help you
create joyful memories as you grow and learn with and from Banner and Quinn.
And though we will always love you, always be here for you, and always protect
you and keep you safe as best we can, we will not be able to make it effortless
for you. Every day is a day to be grateful for the opportunities you have, to
work hard and earn your way. Some days will seem like you’re trying to move
mountains, others like you’re gliding easy over grassy fields. No matter what
you’re going through, remember that we’re here to guide you, to push you, to
encourage you, so when you need it, you have the strength to move those
mountains, and so when you don’t you appreciate a simple stroll. And so that
when you look back, you see accomplishment where once you saw challenge, hills
where once you saw mountains.
A: In rereading some of the words we once read at Banner and Quinn’s
namings, we noticed how the hopes we have for you and your brothers reflect the
qualities of the hills. Here’s a bit of what we said to them and what we also
hope for you:
“We hope you will love to laugh but be okay with crying. We hope you
will be strong when faced with conflict and struggle but be sensitive to
yourself and others. We hope you will take care of others but know when to take
care of yourself, too. We hope you will look for answers but not be afraid to
question.”
You see, so many hopes and dreams we have for you are to be a good
balance of so many things – the yin and yang, the ebb and flow, the ups and
downs – just like the hills, qualities that are opposing yet complimentary of
each other.
Knox Morgan, we hope so many things for you, including that you like
your name, as now you know it has special meanings to us. We have so many
things we want to teach you about from little things like music and movies to
big things like God and the world.
S: We hope you love people, enjoy music, understand the value of
friendship, find romance, think positively, believe in something, stand your
ground and speak your mind, fight for fairness and equality, eat good foods,
and find humor in life. And we sincerely hope you will learn to sleep through
the night - and soon! We want so many things for you, Knox, but mostly, we
really just want you to sleep through the night… no, really, we do. But even
more, we want you to be happy, healthy, and full of love!
We love you,
Mommy & Daddy
May 29, 2016
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| Looking at all the people in the room |
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| The best big brothers |
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| Our family of 5 being blessed by everyone |
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| In the middle of the ceremony - asleep on Mommy's shoulder |
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| With Rabbi S |
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| With one of your 2 godmothers, Cherie |
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| Some of the delicious spread |
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| The Grandparents |
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| S cousins |
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| J cousins |
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| This was my favorite little decoration. Just had to capture a pic of it! :) Love the bowtie! |
