Why Naming A Daughter “Kim” Suddenly Seems Brilliant.
So – I’ve been working on these gifts to give my kids before AndyZ gets here. We did something similar before NikkiZ was born – when I painted wooden signs with her and LilZ’s names on them. Since I wanted to paint one for AndyZ, I took the chance to let the kids pick out something at Michael’s for me to pain them. They both chose different stools to keep in their room, LilZ wanting a circular one with a peace sign. Because he’s in Junior High and evidently that is one of the few things that have NOT changed in the last 20 years: I had peace signs on EVERYTHING.
NikkiZ’s, however, was going to have her name on it. Since I was using stencils, I did every other letter in her name first so that I could do the others when the first batch dried. LilZ came home from school and looked at the stool. He said, “So…um…where are you going to put the rest of the letters.”
My first thought was, Duh. WHERE THEY BELONG. I mean, I had left plenty of room between each letter, I just didn’t want to keep putting my hand in wet paint so I was letting the first ones dry. I gave him a look to try to figure out where he was heading. And then I saw it: SYMPATHY. One of my friend’s daughters was there too and she said what he was scared to, “Aren’t these letters in the wrong place?”
I spelled my daughters name wrong.
Now, since I had only painted every other letter, it was just the middle letter that was wrong. But I was SO mortified that I immediately grabbed a brush and paint and painted over it. I thought I was going to cry I felt so stupid.
I realized later I should have at least photographed the error for visual evidence of my placenta brain to show future generations. But all I wanted to do was cover it up before MrZ got home. BECAUSE I COULD NOT HANDLE THE SHAME.
The stool is done now, except for the sealing coat I’ll spray on today. I have read, and re-read, the letters in her name dozens of times to make sure I’ve spelled it right. I’ve had every family member come up and do the same: assuring me that I won’t wake up one day and see that the stool says: FRANK.
Which – for the record – is NOT her name. But I wouldn’t put it past my limited brain capacity to spell it that way.
You spelled my name wrong? NICE.
(What? I need to take a break from posting the butterfly costume pictures? Ya think?)
I don’t think pregnancy brain ever goes away. I call my kids by the wrong names at least a few times a week, although I think I can spell them…. Still, as long as they answer, who cares, right?
Love the stools idea, very cute. And kudos to LilZ for the peace signs. Good choice, man.
Peace out.
First, I LOVE the butterfly pictures, so keep ‘em coming!
So – just to say you are not alone in this!
Next, when my mom was pregnant with my lil sis, she decided to knit us all Xmas stockings, similar to your painting… And while she didn’t mis-spell my name, um, she didn’t leave enough room for ALL of it. So I’ve had a family Xmas stocking (that I love!) for greater than a quarter century with an odd-looking shortened version of my name on it
Kudos to you lady for actually painting stool’s! Stenciling is harder than it looks. I love Micheal’s craft stores, wish we had them in the UK. Lil Zoot would love a t-shirt I have which has the peace sign depicted on it using shiny sequin’s. Tasteful!Great for hippy concerts though
You totally need to keep the butterfly pics coming. I love em. Also that pic is hilarious. It’s like “my name is not FRANK!”
I so don’t need excuses, I am totally lame and would do that without the pregnent brain….
Please don’t stop sharing the butterfly photos. “Don’t call me Frank, Lady!”
This is why nicknames were invented. I mostly call my kids “Sport” and “Cupcake.”
(I love the butterfly pix.)
“I HATE pansies and I shall endeavor to stamp out every last one!!!”
I spelled my sons middle name wrong – out loud – the day he was born! When my husband corrected me I felt beyond stupid.
Heh I love that LilZ was so hesitant to call you on it. If it was my mum I doubt I’d have been so sweet
Hey, don’t worry, it happens all the time.
My father spelt my middle name wrong, *on my birth certificate*.
And my daughter tells me I spell her name incorrectly almost every single day. As far as she knows, I do. Because her preschool taught her how to spell her name. And *that’s* not how *they* spell it. I guess they know better then!
I painted a very lovely bookshelf for my son once, when my husband pointed out that I spelled his middle name wrong. I forgot the x in Alexander, so sometimes we call him Jaden Aleander, just to honor the bookshelf.
Kim is a great name!
That just might be the cutest picture of NikkiZ ever.
First, that picture is hilarious! She looks so angry at the flowers.
Also, there have been times when I have just completely gone blank on how to spell my son’s name. I write it and then just stare at it because I know it’s wrong – his name has a double letter in it that just falls out of my head sometimes. No placenta brain here . . .I blame it on the allergies!
I think the name “Kim” was a brilliant decision if I say so myself..
Yes — still love the pictures! (And now I’m trying to figure out what her name is…not in a weird way, but I’m always interested in baby names!)
This post made me remember that awhile ago you were debating about changing LilZ’s name on here. Obviously, it hasn’t changed, but I can’t remember if you ever posted about what you decided! And now I’m curious…
I call my brother and my husband each other’s names ALL the time. And I can’t even blame it on pregnancy brain, as I’ve never been pregnant.
LOL… temporary dyslexia! no big deal! I love today’s picture of her though… its perfect!
Ah, the days of placenta brain… I had a sudden flashback to being in meetings with the VP of my president and being unable to come up with simple words.
The butterfly pictures are awesome! What a great idea, I especially love the ones of her in the ball pit, something about all the colors is so great. Also, the one ‘casting spells’ is so cute!
We had a giant tank that we used for storing diesel when we were growing up. My dad painted it john deere green and then got the idea to paint our names on it in yellow. My mom’s name on the end, my name down one long side, then my sisters name down the other. He did this freehand with a big brush. He misspelled her name – Sarbina instead of Sabrina. I don’t remember if he ever corrected it.
Ha. This is a little unrelated, but my boyfriend’s friend went to the registry office to fill out the birth certificate forms, and they hadn’t come up with a middle name yet. So he chose “Danger”. “Max Danger Bax…” (their last name starts with Bax but I can’t remember the full name).
They accepted it, and apparently his mother in law cried when she found out.
Hi,
My 2-year-and-9-month old daughter wants me to get her the butterfly costume your daughter is wearing. Could you tell me where you get or how to make it?
Thank you!