Ann without an E

When JP and I were going over names for our baby we never could agree on a boy name that felt like "it". We knew that the middle name would be Paul because it is JP's middle name and a tradition for the men in his family. But there wasn't a first name that stuck out to us. 

But we immediately agreed on a girl's name. We both love family names and I have always wanted to use my mother's maiden name, Rainey, as a middle name for a little girl. We both loved Ann Rainey. Ann is my grandmommy's middle name(my dad's mother). It is also the first or middle name of several special women in my family. So it was an easy decision for us. Following the good, old southern tradition she will go by a double name and be called "Ann Rainey".

I was raised watching "the Anne movies" with my sisters. To this day, the movies are still some of my favorites and they are my go to movies when I need something familiar/comforting on when I don't feel well. 

For anyone who is familiar with the Anne of Green Gables movies or books, you may remember the conversation about "Anne with an E". 

"...But if you call me Anne please call me Anne spelled with an E."

"What difference does it make how it's spelled?" asked Marilla with another rusty smile as she picked up the teapot. 

"Oh, it makes SUCH a difference.  It LOOKS so much nicer. When you hear a name pronounced can't you always see it in your mind, just as if it was printed out?  I can; and A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished. If you'll only call me Anne spelled with an E I shall try to reconcile myself to not being called Cordelia."

One thing that we realized as we were looking through all of the family members, they were all spelled Ann rather than Anne. I might have struggled for a few minutes over whether or not to put the E in her name but I figured if it is going to be a family name then it needs to be all or nothing. So we now have our little Ann without an E! And I don't think it looks dreadful at all. ;-)