Naming Names

We had a lovely Christmas and nice visits with family. Lucy seems to learn something every time we visit family. This time her big leap was realizing that people have names. We've been trying to get her to say her name for months, and she just wouldn't do it. We weren't sure if she understood the concept of naming. She doesn't know that "mommy" and "daddy" are not what everyone calls us. She thinks of herself as "me." She's never referred to herself in third person. She has never named any of her dolls or stuffed animals.

The first glimmer than she might be understanding names happened at church in December. She became fascinated with the nativity scene and would point at the figures and say "daddy" (Joseph), "mommy" (Mary), and "Lucy" (baby Jesus). It was the first time she said her name, and it seems like a good thing for her to identify with Jesus.

While we were visiting family, she looked at pictures of herself, and I told her that the person in the photo was her, that was "baby Lucy." Near Lucy's photos are Audrey's photos, so I pointed out the other baby on the wall and said, "That baby is Audrey." "Audrey," she repeated. Wow. She said a name. And she called Audrey by her name while they were together. I don't remember if she every said Aiden or Alton. I know she said Ash and Gram (which sounded more like Dram).

She really figured out names when we went to Springfield. She woke up every morning looking for Drew and calling for him. By the end of the week she was calling Katie "Dee." But the best was what she called Cathy. Lucy loves their dog, and so when the dog followed Cathy to the bathroom and sat outside the door, Lucy talked to him to keep him company. I noticed that she kept saying "mama," so I answered her, but she didn't seems to want my attention. Then I asked her if she was talking to me or talking to the dog about the dog's mama. She said, "Dog mama. Dog mama peepee." And Dog Mama was Cathy's name for the rest of the week. Toward the end of the week, it was sometimes Mama Dog. Cathy didn't mind. She was thrilled that she had a name.

After we got home, we went to dinner with our friend Susie. As we left the restaurant, Lucy called her Shooshie. Susie's heart melted. I look forward to seeing who or what else she names.