There are a lot of things Ryan and I don’t know. We don’t know exactly where we’ll be living when our baby is born. Or the day she’ll arrive (our guess date is June 19th). We don’t know how tired we’ll be during those first few months. Or if we’ll get a chance to go to Paris in the fall. I’m not certain what my labor will look like, what doctor will attend our birth, or if my little sister will be able to make it out from West Virginia on time.
But, we do know the name of our daughter, and we hoped that by naming her, we would evoke all the kind and generous women who have raised our families.
When I’m asked to picture a kitchen in my head, I immediately think of my Grammy’s small but fruitful kitchen. Pictures of her grandchildren cover the refrigerator, and there is always something freshly baked to be found in a plastic Tupperware container or on a shelf in the fridge. Each holiday season brings about Grammy’s famous pies, and we all snack on her chocolate brownies while we wait for the turkey to finish roasting.
We decided to name our daughter Lucille (Lucy) Amelia, after my mom’s mother, my Grammy. Quite simply, she is one of the sweetest and gentlest women I know. Through her, I learned a love of baking…and, more importantly, how to love others well. She gave birth to my mother, who is by far the most special and influential person in my life. Without my mother’s consistent, loving presence, I wouldn’t be so excited to give birth to my baby. Lucille is a way of honoring those generations of love and support.
Lucille also means “bringer of light.” Many of you know the loss that Ryan and I have experienced during our short, four years of marriage. Within six months of our wedding day, we lost Ryan’s father to suicide. Then, my sweet nephew, baby Ryan, was in a near-drowning in October of 2010, leaving him permanently and severely disabled. In March of 2011, my oldest sister and her family were in a car accident in Florida. We lost Pam, her husband Mike, and my nephew Jeremy. That summer, Ryan and I were told we couldn’t conceive without fertility treatment…and after everything that had happened…what a painful blow.
But there were other plans in store for us…a little girl who would bring a fresh dose of light and joy. Lucy is due just a few days before Pam’s birthday, and I can’t help but feel like this is part of a much bigger story.
My Grammy fell very ill earlier this year, and I pray for her sustained health every day. This will be her first great-grandchild, and I can’t wait to see her hold baby Lucy in her arms. This past Thanksgiving, she wasn’t able to make the pies we’ve all come to love. Thankfully, I’ve learned a few of her tricks over the years, and I’ll be happy to carry on the tradition she started…and teach baby Lucy to do the same.
Classic Apple Pie
1 recipe butter pastry (double-crust)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
6 cups cored, peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg white, beaten
2 tsp. granulated sugar
1. In a small bowl combine brown sugar, flour, salt and 1 teaspoon finely snipped rosemary; set aside. In a very large bowl toss apples with lemon juice. Add brown sugar mixture and toss to coat. Stir in whipping cream, vanilla, and rosemary syrup.
2. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. On lightly floured surface, slightly flatten one pastry disc. Roll it from center to edges to form a circle 12 inches in diameter. Wrap pastry circle around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie pan or plate. Trim pastry even with rim of pie pan and spoon in apple mixture. (Leave extra juice in the bottom of your bowl)
3. Roll remaining ball of pastry into a circle 12 inches in diameter. Place pastry circle on top of your apple filling. Cut a few large slits on the surface to allow steam to escape. Crimp edges as desired. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of sugar.
4. To prevent overbrowning, cover the edge of your pie crust with foil. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake the apple pie for 35 minutes. Remove foil. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until fruit is tender and filling is bubbly. Cool on wire rack; serve slightly warm with vanilla icecream. Makes 10 servings.
Monet
Anecdotes and Apple Cores
What a beautiful name! I love it.
This is such a sweet story. You and Ryan endured a lot and I’m so happy for you that you get to welcome this precious little girl into your lives.
We had wanted to name Aimon, Christian, but my grandfather said he’d prefer if we named him Valentin since, “he never was a Christian”. Christian was his real name, but we didn’t find out till he was retiring, it’s a long story. Either way we still wanted him to have his own name so we made it a middle name. His health was failing as well and I wanted to make sure that he knew he wasn’t forgotten. My grandfather may not always have been warm, but a house full of grandkids and we softened him up good and proper in preparation for his twilight years.
Congrats again Monet!
Monet,
What a beautiful tribute to your “Grammy”, and such a touching story about choosing the name for your baby girl. I’m sure that you will carry on your “Grammy’s” traditions in the family.
Congrats, Monet! My grandmother’s name is Lucille as well! Love the name; it’s not one you hear often anymore. *Hugs*
I love the story behind her name and may she bring light to everyone she encounters.
P.S.
I also hope you are able to go back to Paris…because I would like to have a vicarious vacation with you 🙂
Monet, whenever I read your posts they’re just so full of love and life, I’m sorry to hear of everything you and your family have gone through, and it’s such a testament to you that you’re still so sweet and happy despite all the hard times you’ve faced. ‘Bringer of light’ is such a perfect name for your little girl, as it sounds like she’s going to be just like her Mom! This pie looks incredible too, is there anything more like family and home than apple pie?
I love that you’re naming your daughter after your beloved grandmother, Monet. The moment she holds her great granddaughter in her arms will be a precious memory for both of you.
Apple is my favorite kind of pie…..it looks perfect.
What a special name! My grandma’s name was Lucille, (my mom’s name too) but I never had any little girls to pass it to. So special that you can carry on her wonderful pie-making tradition, as well as her beautiful name! 🙂
great story and DELICIOUS pie!
What a beautiful name behind the name. After so many tragedies these last few years, I’m so happy that you have this joy in your life, and love learninga about your pregnancy journey. Hugs!
A beautiful name and a beautiful story. I’m touched by your relationship to your Grammy. This makes me miss my maternal grandmother very much.
The photo of your Grammy is simply beautiful! She was (is) a beautiful, happy woman, and I see the brightness of her eyes in your eyes too…
You’ve been through a lot. Amazing how much pain, sadness, suffering can be summarized in a couple of paragraphs. It blows my mind.
I wish you all the happiness in the universe for your future!
So so so sweet… love the story behind the name you’ve chosen. It’s quite touching. And such a lovely pie to include too.
I obviously do not know you personally, but I wanted to let you know I am a huge fan. I did not realize you have suffered through so many tragedies. Your spirit on the blog is contagious and I enjoy checking in everyday to see what you are whipping up in the kitchen. You are amazing and I am so happy for your little girl! She is blessed with amazing parents.
What a beautiful name and a beautiful story to go with it. Your baby girl is going to raised with so much love. You are going to love teaching her to bake and create memories that way. Have a blessed week!
Classic apple pie is the best kind! What a ray of sunshine little Lucy is going to be in all of your lives. Beautiful name.
what a beautiful tribute – what a special meaning – this child will bring light and love in ways beyond your imagination, what a true blessing….very soon i can say “keep shining sweet lil bella Lucille” xoxo
I love that you are naming your baby after your Grandma Monet! What a lovely name too :)! Your pie looks so increadibly good, and you are serving it proper, with ice cream (I consider that essential to pie). Hope you have a wonderful week :)!
Lucille Amelia – old fashioned in the best possible way. It just speaks sweetness to me. Lucky, Lucky Lucy to have you and Ryan as parents! And that gorgeous apple pie goes hand-in-hand with your Grammy, little Lucy and togetherness.
It’s so cool to hear where your daughter’s name is coming from, and I’m really happy to see that someone else calls their grandma “Grammy!” That’s what I’ve always called mine, and because she’s so special to me, I hope to give a hypothetical, future daughter of my own her middle name someday.
And I wouldn’t worry too much about all of the unknowns – isn’t that a lot of what new parenthood is all about? My mom’s always said she had no idea what she was doing, and I hear that from a lot of parents in my life.
I’ll keep your sweet Grammy in my prayers…I can’t wait to see photos of her holding baby Lucy. Love the meaning of her name…just perfect.
What a beautiful name.You have been through such a tough time. I am so happy that your little girl will bring much joy to the family again soon.
I hope you get to bring the little “Bringer of Light” to the “City of Lights”! Lots of love to you, Ryan and the baby.
What a fortunate baby Lucy is with all the love and tradition waiting for her. I love her name and I love apple pie!!
Best,
Bonnie
This post is so sweet and beautiful, Monet (just like your daughter!). I always love coming here because I know I will leave uplifted and thinking about what I appreciate in my own life. Your grandmother sounds like a special soul. What a wonderful tribute!
Enjoy your apple pie – and teaching Lucy how to make one before too long! 🙂
What an amazing name my dear friend. I love it and what a lovely way to compliment your family.
I still say prayers for you and your husband, and family for that matter for all that you have gone through. The fact that you are still so cheering and just Monet….is amazing. You are a beacon of hope and true joy in this world. Thank you.
This apple pie is amazing! Gotta love the classics
What a beautiful story my friend, it is such a lovely tale behind this pie – thank you for sharing 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
What a nice story about your baby to be’s namsake. I absolutely love that you chose Lucille. Your apple pie looks absolutely mouthwatering, too!
Oh wow, I haven’t visited your blog in so long, congratulations on the baby! What a sweet story. Wishing all the best for your Grammy.
And also, what a sweet looking pie 🙂
Monet, I do not know where to start so I will congratulate you and your hasband on the fantastic baby news first – I love the fact that you will be naming your daughter after your Grammy, I named my oldest daughter also after my beloved grand-mother and I love the fact that grand-children carry the names of their grand-parents. And I wish you and your family all, absolutely all the happiness in the world!!! Of, yes, and what could be more fitting than a recipe for a delicious comforting apple pie!
Take good care of yourself, get plenty of rest (whenever possible)and “see” you soon!
Hi Monet,
I’m really so sorry to hear about what you and Ryan have gone thru. You have shown yourself to be a strong person and you are going to be a great mother to baby Lucy!
This is a lovely tribute to your grammy, I’m sure she is very excited to hold her great grandchild in her arms and shower her with love!
The apple pie looks so delicious, recipes passed down, are indeed a treasure!
Take care!
Lucille and Lucy for short are such sweet names! Your post made me tear up – it’s so sweet of you to name your baby after your grandmother and I bet she’s thrilled that she gets to see her very first grand daughter in a few months!
I love that you’re naming her after your grandma and how amazing it is that she is due near Pam’s birthday. It makes me get happy tingles. One day, when we start a family, I hope to name my baby girl after one of the ladies in my family. My mom’s name is Pam, her mom is Stella (and her wonderful mom was Eva which is my mom-in-law’s name) and my dad’s mom is Loretta. Then Ethel and Violet were my great grandmothers on that side. I adore all of these ladies and any one of those names would be lovely. Your apple pie sounds so good-another gifted lesson from your grandma. My grandma passed that on to me as well with the addition of those dot cinnamon candies. I’m glad we share these strong bonds with our family and that you talk about such love with your beautiful writing voice.
What a beautiful tribute to your grandmother (and name!)… I especially appreciate this post because I lost my second grandma just before Christmas and I still think about her all the time. Also, my second child’s due date was June 19th, although he was born a week later, thank you for reminding me of those days. I am so happy you are heading towards this moment of indescribable love and joy after all you have been through.
I love apple pie and this looks delicious! I am so sorry to read all the loss you have add but I am really really happy for you and the baby girl coming! Have a joyfull weekend!
Ciao.
What blows to endure during the first years of a marriage…my heart was aching for you as I was reading this post. I’m so glad that you’ll have a little girl bringing light to your world!
The pie looks so beautiful and delicious. I love your daughter’s name and the meaning behind it. Hearing about your Grandmother brought back memories of my own, and a lot of similar ones. Wishing you a bright and beautiful weekend!
p.s. now I am really craving apple pie!
such a beautiful story…so excited for this blessing of yours!
Holy Amazing!
Thank y ou for sharing these photos are gorg
http://abpetite.blogspot.com/
A sweet story and tribute Monet!! Love the photos and the apple pie;-)
I’m excited for everything you both have to look forward to–congrats again;-)
What a wonderful reason to choose your daughter’s name rather than just what is popular this year. Whenever I hear the name Lucille I think of the Beatles song ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ although I like Elton John’s version better. Your Lucy will indeed be a bringer of light. In fact, considering how much joy there was in her conception, she already has.
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