the "belle" & the "beanzer"

Why belle&beanzer you ask?...

The process of selecting a name was almost painful for me. I mean, it's a NAME. All roads lead back. Names conjure up all sorts images and emotions. When we name our children, how many of us have gone through that selection/rejection process where we just loooo-o-ove this one, and that one is a no-go because  you knew someone with that name in 5th grade who made fun of your quirky hair. 25 years later, and you can't warm up to that name!

belle&beanzer was the first name I came up with when I was developing the line of newborn, infant and toddler clothes. It's the name I came back to because of it's personal significance.
I thought, If I'm going to do this, it's got to have my fingerprints all over it. 

I come from a proud, long lineage of nick-namers. My mom, pop, auntieM and uncle, my grampy and grammy... ALL clever conjurers of nomenclature. The gene runs strong in me as well. My daughter can often be heard telling me authoritatively, "NO. I'm JUST Ava. A-V-A." Someday she'll look back and smile...

My own nick-names are alive and kicking in my family. I'm 36 and I'm rarely, maybe never, called by my given name...and I love that. It's playful, creative, clever and warms my heart that there isn't just one name the people in my life can call me that fully captures me, and the love they have for me. I feel that, and am so tickled when they go to speak my name all sorts of fun, silly, loving quirkiness comes out instead. Right back atcha Fab Fam! (that's the nick name we have for ourselves. Is the love and affection making you sick? that's what we call turning the lights down low and putting on candles at dinner time. grooan)

So, here is the quick list (mom, feel free to add any I've forgotten):
mousey • mousateria • wanda june jellyspoon • maggie (no, my middle name isn't maggie and maggie isn't short for anything else) • maggers duke • duke nucleus (nucleus is the center and I'm the center of my pops heart) • noodles • Mercury (bc mercury is the closest planet to the sun and therefore the brightest) • rudy, • rudus • rudus abudus • dog daughter (no clue, but it's not mean) • baby coo • marsha (no reason) • reba • rebar • aaaannnnd lulu belle
And, there you have the "belle" of belle&beanzer.

Me at 1 year. YES, I snuck up on the table to get more turkey. 

Beanzer is my brother's baby name. It is a derivative of Beany J Boy...which was bc like a bean that sprouts and grows so quickly, so did my brother. Think Jack and the Bean Stalk. Other family faves are: Zachariah T Woodstock, Jackson, Jacko, Zacko, Zachers, Jack and the most awesome big brother ever. Okay, that one, I just put in right now...

It was important to include my brother's nick name, because it was his encouragement and nudging that was the catalyst. An email, a call, a long talk, a meeting, more emails... He got me started, and  encouraged me from a stance of total confidence, and certainty that I could and would do it. As if I was already a baby clothes designer.

The Law of Attraction states  "...BE (ing) the person you want to be, and then you DO what that person would do, to HAVE what they would have."  (Thank you Lisa for that link!!) My Brother did that for me. He spoke to me as though I already was, and I saw I was, and now I am. I don't have clever words for that....just, THANK YOU.

belle&beanzer. then end.

What are your thoughts on the name I selected?

What images does it conjure up for you?

Did you have any fun, creative, weird, lovable nick-names from and for your family?

Please share, I'd love to hear from you!