Houston, we have a name.

My understanding is that one of those Texas cities was in the running for a while. Not Houston, Austin. The name that wins the honor of adorning my grandson is Andrew. (Still awaiting a middle name.) For the birth and death certificate they still need a name for Baby B as well.

Andrew. I like that. It is the name of a president and the general at the battle of New Orleans. Andy is the name of my High School Basketball coach and biology teacher as well as the name of my predecessor at Holladay Baptist Church. It is the name of one of the deacons here until he moved to Alaska. It was the name of one of my sons best friends in school, and the same friend became Drew and team mate on his High School football team. I can think of a few Drews but I don't know that is a regular nick name for Andrew. Is it?

I like all the Andys I have ever known. I am sure I will really like this one to. Vote on what you think his call to dinner name should be. Andrew, Andy,Drew,Ace, or some other nick name. Of course, the decision will be further complicated when he has a middle name, and the final decision will be made by his mom and dad.

I will gladly follow their direction.

What Do You Call A Grand Parent?

Granddad, Grand father, Grandpa, Gramps, Grand Pappy, PawPaw, Popsie. Those are all names given to the male grand parent. Who gives out the names? Who decides what you get called by your grandchildren?

We are still awaiting a name for our new grandson, but say, what about our new name? Grandma, Grandmother, Gramma, Grand Mammy, Mopsie, what do we call her? I mean, my name for her hasn’t changed in the 40 years since our first date, but what will the name be for the grand son?

My kids mostly called me dad when they were little. Today they call me all kinds of things, they just don’t call me enough. So Grand dad works for me. That was what I called my grandfather Russell, as I remember, though he died when I was 13. My other male grandparent was Bompie. By the time I was old enough to remember my older cousin had already named him and when he died at age 99 he was still Bompie. I think the only two people I regularly heard call him by any other name were my mom whom I heard call him daddy, and my grandma (and that is what we called her) who sometimes called him Alfred. (Probably the name she knew him by when they had their first date, some 80 or so years earlier.)

My kids call my dad Granddad. I think my brothers kids do too. But Jen’s dad is Poppa. Both Grandmas are Grandma. When they need t differentiate between them their given names are added. Grandma Betty and Grandma Mary. A friend of mine says his grandkids call him Utah Grandpa.

Actually I don’t care what he calls me. I still have a couple of years before he calls me anything. I am just thankful that he is here and healthy, and I pray he grows up to call me something.

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