What’s In a Name?

A surprising number of people have expressed interest in the name Cedric and why we chose it for our firstborn son. Cedric is not a common name and I think that some explanation will help those who might be scratching their heads' over the name.

According to Behind the Name, Cedric, pronounced SED-rik, was actually invented by Sir Walter Scott for a character in the novel Ivanhoe. Some speculate that it could be based off of Cerdic, the legendary founder of the kingdom of Wessex. Though the name really doesn't mean anything because its made up, I have seen various sites and books give name meanings for Cedric of battle chieftan, lord of wars, and founder. Though some have given the name origins as Welsh, its really English, again because it was created by Sir Walter Scott.
Some famous Cedrics...well there is Cedric the character in Ivanhoe, Cedric Diggory of Harry Potter fame, and Cedric the Entertainer. So despite what people have said, Cedric is not a "black" name. I would say that with the exception of Cedric the Entertainer, its about as WASPish a name as they come.

But the reason why I like Cedric so much is that it brings to mind a lot of attributes that I hope and pray for my son to have. Bravery, loyalty, leadership, love and joy are some of the things that I think of when I think of Cedric. The name actually conjures up images that remind me of King David and I hope that it is a name that my son will love and never be embarrassed by because its "different."
And last of all, the name just flat out fits him. If you think of a baby battle chieftan wouldn't you imagine someone like this....

3 Week Milestones

Today marks Cedric's third week of life outside of the womb. Zach and I are feeling more like "parents." The first couple of days we definitely shared the feeling that any minute the real parents would show up and thank us for doing such a good job and take over from here.

Cedric's two week pediatrician visit went well. He now weighs 11lbs 4oz and his head is 38cm. I apologize because I forget how long the doctor said he was...but it was longer than his birth length (22.5 inches). So far he's a healthy, happy and fat baby.

My first OBGYN visit since having Cedric was a bit more exciting. I've lost 30lbs so far, which is pretty encouraging I've got to tell you. The next 20 make take awhile to loose but somehow it doesn't seem as daunting. The nurse practitioner that I saw recommended that I buy a girdle. To which my response was "They still make girdles?" I decided to try Elisa's recommendation and try Spanx instead. The NP also reassured me that when I was done having kids I could have a tummy tuck and everything would be all better again. Now the Laura of a few years ago would have turned her nose up at the mere mention of cosmetic surgery - but post-natal Laura found the suggestion reassuring. I'm not really sure how to explain the change of heart. Perhaps my vanity runs deeper than I thought.