His Name

While I was a nanny in New Jersey I drove past a street called Ryder St. every day on my way to work.  I fell in love with the name and decided I wanted a little boy named Ryder someday.

Teryn was born and we gave him the middle name Gregory after Tyson's dad.  When we found out we were expecting another little boy I thought it was only fair we name him after my dad somehow.  My dad's name is Rouel J and a lot of people call him R.J. so we decided to give our little boy the same initials.  I'm happy Tyson loved the name Ryder as much as I did, so that took care of the R.  It didn't take us long to decide on Jaxon for the J, so that was the anticipated name.  Until the night before he was born.

Tyson got home from work and we were talking about the induction the next morning.  He sat on the couch with Teryn's Magna Doodle, writing "Ryder Jaxon" over and over again.  Then he wrote "Ryder Jackson" and asked if we were sure we wanted to spell it with an "x".  Before he even finished his question I knew I liked it better the traditional "ck" way.  Jaxon all of a sudden seemed trendy and he-was-definitely-born-in-the-twenty-teensish.  Also, joined with the name Ryder, it felt like we were trying too hard.  Jackson seemed stronger and more sturdy.  Natural.  Timeless.  Classic.  

And so it was decided.  Ryder Jackson Todd.

It couldn't fit him more perfectly.