We’re changing our baby’s name

It’s been almost fifteen weeks, and the name “Emery” just hasn’t settled in to our liking.

Three weeks ago, on the drive to work, Matt asked me, “So are you still in love with the name, Emery?” To which I immediately answered, “Of course! Yes! It’s the most amazing name ever!” but secretly, I’d been having doubts for weeks.

On paper, Emery is an amazing name. I love it so much! There are so many things about it that are perfect…it has three syllables, it starts with a vowel, it has a musical reference, it’s uncommon but not unpronounceable…I could go on and on… but after Emery was born, and we started using her name more and more, and saying it out loud so often, I started to really dislike how it sounded. I think it sounds like someone mispronouncing “Emily”.

I didn’t keep my feelings to myself for very long. In fact it was that same day, at dinner when I confessed that I lied, and that I had been feeling unsure about our name decision for a while. We talked and agreed that since we were both having doubts, we should change her name.

Our second choice for her name, should have been our first choice…so I’d like to reintroduce you to our beautiful baby girl…

We’ve been calling her Cadence for three weeks now and absolutely love it. It stuck right away and felt so natural after a very short amount of time. She looks like a Cadence, she acts like a Cadence, she really should have been named Cadence from the start.

We alternate between Cadence and Cady, just like we alternate between Adelaide and Addie, and we know people will continue to call her Emery for a while and that doesn’t bother us at all—we still slip up sometimes!

Adelaide calls her both names (or all three?) and doesn’t seem confused by it at all. I’m sure as time passes and she hears us call her “Emery” less and less, the name will just fade out of her memory.

The process to have her name legally changed will take some time, but it will be worth it to avoid confusion the rest of her life. I’m sure I will post about the process as we’re going through it.

Thanks for putting up with all of this confusion!