Changes and Oreos

Somewhat intentionally, and somewhat unexpectedly, I am right smack dab in the middle of a maelstrom of change right now.  In the upcoming days and weeks, I will have:

• A new address
• A new job
• A new name

Sure, three things may not seem like that much, but I feel pretty safe in saying that all three are kind of doozy-sized changes! 

Image via The Heart of Innovation

We're moving into our first shared apartment this weekend, which is simultaneously exciting, nerve-wracking, and a little stressful.  I'll be glad once this weekend has come and gone, resulting in a shiny new apartment with shiny new things, and, more notably, without the perma-smell of cardboard that has developed in our current apartments.

The job is definitely a bit of a surprise; I don't finish my degree until December but started casually applying for positions a few weeks back to avoid the pitfalls of this less-than-stellar job market after graduation.  Thankfully, I got hurriedly ushered through a pretty intensive interview process, culminating in a job offer this week.  I'm obviously very excited, and I'm still trying to fully grasp how much this changes things. 

Last, but certainly not least, my new name.  I never debated whether or not to take Mr. Snow Cone's last name.  I definitely have a feminist streak in me, but I believe that feminism most appropriately manifests itself in a woman's ability to make her own decisions and not face any backlash because of her choice.  So, I still think I'm being a darned good feminist by choosing to take Mr. Snow Cone's last name.  I am choosing to adopt a new surname to reflect my new identity as a wife and future mother.  I am choosing to have my future family all share the same family name, because that bond is important to me. 

I'm also choosing to not give up my current last name, or my middle name, or hyphenate.  Confused?  Allow me to explain.  My new name will be: First Middle Last HisLast.  Or, in slightly more understandable terms, something like this: Elizabeth Jane Smith Johnson.  Using this example, I would have two middle names, Jane and Smith.  I am too attached to my current name as it stands to relinquish any part of it; at the same time, I'm too attached to the idea of having Mr. Snow Cone's last name to surrender that privilege.  Fortunately, Mr. Snow Cone has two middle names, too, so he didn't bat an eye at the idea of making my name something of a Double Stuf Oreo.

Image via Rants and Ratings

Sure, it'll be a bit of a hassle to write it out, and sure, it'll complicate monogramming anything, but all of those concerns are frivolous when they're compared to the bigger picture.  And given how many disagreements over future baby names we've had, maybe we'll take the double middle name approach with the kids, too, to appease both of us!  A family of Double Stufs!

Image via Teeter Tottering

Anyone else out there have a world of change immediately prior to the wedding?  Or, any other Double Stufs names??