What's in a name?

My name is Glenda Lois Ann. It always seemed a little overdone to me. I never knew why I had to have three names. It was a logistical nightmare when it came time to fill in the scantron for those pesky state-mandated tests; however, my initials spelled and continue to spell "GLAM", which is very cool as well as a handy nickname.

It did mean something to me that my mother's first name was Lois - even though she went by her middle name, Evon. My Grandmother's name was also Lois. She has been described as the "model mother" by my Aunt Leah and was a very cool lady indeed! So even though Lois isn't the coolest name in the world, I am very proud to have it in my name arsenal. Which leads me to this:

For months and months and months preceding her arrival, it was clearly conveyed that our new little girl's name was going to be Lillian Jane. Jane is my sister, Tammy's, middle name as well as our Great Grandmother, Martha Jane Carling's, middle name. I found it fitting to bequeath it upon our new little one. As the months ticked by I began to feel a tremor of guilt regarding "Lois". I brought it up to Tracy. He shrugged his shoulders and told me to do whatever I wanted - I had completely named the child on my own as it was! Thus the waffling began ....

The day Lily was born, dialogue was reinstated on whether we should or should not "Lois" Lillian. I had almost become comfortable with NOT using Lois when our difficulties in labor began. By the time the whole ordeal was finished and I had our precious little one in my arms, my mind was made up for good. That is how #3 became:

Lillian Lois Jane Montierth
or
Lil' Lo Jane
LL Cool Jane
Lily Lois Jane
Lo-I part duex
Little Lo J

A Gallery of Loises:

Lois Daphne Brown (in picture on left). This picture is so amazing because it looks like a color photo, but in reality my Grandmother painted over a black and white photo reproduction. In person it is unreal. The picture is of my Grandmother and Grandfather - newly married and expecting their first child. It is so beautiful!

Lois Evon Miller - my Mom. There's a theme here -in this picture she's pregnant with my big brother (and her first child), Gerald.

Glenda Lois Ann Montierth holding Lillian Lois Jane Montierth.