Our Second Baby

Last updated on: March 8, 2018 at 5:24 pm by Ambaa Choate

Our Second Baby 2018-03-08T17:24:27-05:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We are finally half way through the pregnancy and that means…it was time to find out the sex!

Feet!

In some ways I feel silly caring so much about this, considering that knowing someone’s sex doesn’t really tell you anything about them. Boys can be into “girl” things and vice versa and I’m all for that. Individuals should do what makes them happy and follow their heart regardless of traditional norms.

Nonetheless, I really wanted one of each: a boy and a girl. And considering how difficult I find being pregnant I don’t think I can go through this again. So this felt like our last chance if we were ever going to have a girl.

And luckily the Gods were smiling on us.

It is a girl!

Her name is Priya Ilana.

Our criteria for our childrens’ Hindu names is that they be short and easy for non-Indian Americans to pronounce. Not everyone agrees with this principle. And I agree that there is a problem with changing South Asian names to make them more…paletable to Westerners. Nonetheless, we are caving to it.

Priya means “dear” in Sanskrit. When my mom first told me what it meant (a friend had a daughter of that name when I was ten) I thought she had said “deer.” And I was like, hmm. That’s a little odd but nice.

Ilana is for my best friend who died eight years ago. In a way I feel as though she gave me my desire for children. She always had a drive to be a mother and it never wavered. She was confident and ready for children. I was less certain at that time. I was in my twenties and still feeling like I was not ready to be selfless enough to be a mother. But as soon as Ilana died I was hit with an enormous biological desire for children. It feels as though she purposely passed it to me.

There was also the sense that I could potentially get her back if I had children. It was irrational but it felt like maybe I could sort-of snatch her soul back. But that was eight years ago and that feeling has faded.

I’m glad to finally have the opportunity to honor her in this way.

Inside the Life

Previous Post

February 28, 2018

Holi Resources

Next Post

March 13, 2018 A Hindu President in 2020

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Samuel's mother, who prayed for a child at Shiloh?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Leah Hannah Rebekah Peninnah