Your Name

Dear McKinley, 

One day you will probably ask how you got your name and quite frankly- I have no idea. I know how you got your middle name, and I will tell you about that in a minute. Your first name was a name I have loved for a long time. All through college I would say I liked the name McKinley. I met your dad, and at one point before we were even married we had discussed names. I told him I loved the name McKinley and he agreed that he loved it too. When we found out we were pregnant we didn't even have to discuss girl names because we both knew if we had a girl we would name her McKinley. The only thing we did have to decide was your middle name and that came pretty easy, too. 

My Mema (your MiMi's mom) was the sweetest southern woman you could ever meet. She loved us all so much and I loved everything about her. She would have loved to have met you and I know that her face would have lit up the second she saw you. I knew I wanted to incorporate her name (Clara Mae Nixon) into our your name somehow. McKinley Clara didn't go well but McKinley Mae sounded just right. Your dad and I agreed that it was perfect and that was that! 

We didn't tell anyone your name until you were born. We loved the name and that was all that mattered to us- we thought if we told people, we would hear opinions of if they liked it or not. I didn't want anyone to change our mind and it was fun to keep something a surprise until you made your debut! 

Love you forever, 

Mommy 

Your monogrammed going home outfit that was 10 sizes too big!