I must start out with the fact that …I. AM.TOTALLY. PARTIAL. To this Grandpa name. See that nice gentleman in the picture, he’s my dad. He passed away 8 years ago so just looking at this picture makes me sad. But I have to say he had the best grandpa name ever, bestowed on him by my daughter. Here’s the story…
When my daughter was a baby my dad used to come see her almost every day. He used to walk in the house and say “Hello pumpkin”. Well, when she got old enough to talk I saw her looking out the window. When she saw my dad walking down the street she announced, “Pumpkin is here”. It turns out that she thought all gray haired people were called Pumpkin. Once we were out at a store and I stopped to visit with a friend who just happened to have gray hair. She very kindly told this person, “I have a pumpkin at home just like you”. Once she was looking out the window and noticed that our neighbors were being visited by their grandparents. She came and told me, “Mom, Emily’s pumpkin is here, he’s right outside”
Needless to say, my dad became Grandpa Pumpkin. That’s why he has a pumpkin quilt and why I am mildly obsessed with pumpkins. I’m wondering if I can convince my husband to be Pumpkin if we ever have grandkids…How’s that for names…Mimi and Pumpkin.
Still madly working on my border….check back soon.
Awwwhhh....that is the sweetest story!! You're right pumpkin is such a cute name, thanks for sharing!! Merry Merry!!
Posted by: Debbie S, | 12/22/2011 at 07:23 AM
Great story! When I was a little girl, my two grandpas were known as "Pamp" and "Poppo Pete". My hubby is known by our 5 grandchildren as "poppy". I love special names for our special relatives. I am glad you made Pumpkin his own special quilt and hope you pass this quilt down to your daughter.
Looking forward to seeing the border applique. I like the start of it you showed us.
donna j from kansas
Posted by: donna j | 12/22/2011 at 07:30 AM
When my grandson was born my Mom nicknamed him sweet pea and when he was old enough to speak he always calls her sweet pea greant granny. I'm still working on my tweets but have ordered Mimi can't wait. Thanks
Posted by: DebbieCA | 12/22/2011 at 07:33 AM
whoops that should read sweet pea great granny.
Posted by: DebbieCA | 12/22/2011 at 07:34 AM
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it.
Posted by: Monica | 12/22/2011 at 07:37 AM
What a wonderful story. We're grandma and grandpa chicken for the small flock of chickens we have.
Posted by: karen | 12/22/2011 at 07:46 AM
Oh Erin, that is a wonderful story! I bet your daughter will be on board with another generation of "Grandpa Pumpkin"!
Posted by: Elizabeth Green | 12/22/2011 at 08:46 AM
That's a great story. A similar thing happened to my Dad. He kept calling my nephew "BooBoo". When James was old enough to talk he thought his Granddad's name was BooBoo and call him that until BooBoo died 5 years ago. Of course we all loved and and thought he deserved it!
Posted by: Vicki W | 12/22/2011 at 09:01 AM
I love your Pumpkin story.
Posted by: FrancesB | 12/22/2011 at 09:25 AM
Great story. My grandpa used to call me pumpkin face when I was really small. I couldn't quite say that so I called him Punkyface, and it stuck until he died many years ago. All the grandchildren called him that. My husband and I are Poppy and Nanny and if anyone tries to call us by any other name, our granddaughter corrects them very clearly.
Posted by: Miki | 12/22/2011 at 09:56 AM
When our daughter was born we named her Paulette and when we brought her home from the hospital, our son, Rod, had to check her out from her toes to the top of her head. He said, "Isn't she just the cutest little punkin'?" That name stuck but changed slightly to Punkie. She's a grown woman now with almost grown children of her own and most of the people who know her (including her brother) call her Punkie.
Posted by: Donna A | 12/22/2011 at 09:56 AM
That is the best! How sweet!!
Posted by: Tonya | 12/22/2011 at 10:00 AM
love your story. my kids called their great grandfather ( more pops). they called their grandfather poppop.
Posted by: ilean | 12/22/2011 at 10:41 AM
Thank you very much for this lovely story.
I wish you and your family merry christmas.
Kerstin from Cologne/Germany
Posted by: Kerstin | 12/22/2011 at 11:10 AM
Friends are Grammy and Grampy...well next to youngest grandson came along and couldn't say Grampy so it became PP...yep it stuck...try yelling it across a crowded grocery store...LOL
Oh and PP is a retired State Trooper but he loves it!
Posted by: kalli | 12/22/2011 at 03:41 PM
Such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing Erin!
Posted by: Sue | 12/22/2011 at 07:53 PM
Adorable story Erin, Precious moments with the ones we love.
My Mom and Dad called me "pumpkin" when I was little, My Dad has been gone for 5 years.
Merry Christmas to you!
Posted by: Liz | 12/22/2011 at 09:11 PM
Such a sweet story, thanks so much for sharing. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Donna in NH | 12/23/2011 at 05:23 AM
So sweet... please, look at Bunny Hill, if you haven't done yet. There's a wonderful pattern for a pumpkin quilt... also a kit with fabrics!
Posted by: Pepe | 12/23/2011 at 07:44 AM
Love this story. And I think you're right - I think he has the best grandpa name. My niece and nephew call my mom "Grandma Kisses", because she's always kissing them. Now that they're 12 and 14, I'm wondering if all that kissing is starting to get old!
Posted by: Peggi | 12/23/2011 at 10:35 AM
I almost forgot - my kids have nicknames for my parents that drive my dad nuts. Both of their grandfathers are named Tom. One Tom is married to Ronnie, and the other Tom is married to Sharry. So the grandpas are known as Grandpa Ronnie and Grandpa Sharry. This annoys Grandpa Sharry (my dad) and makes me giggle because he's mildly chauvinistic and a year-round grinch.
Posted by: Peggi | 12/23/2011 at 10:43 AM
That is beautiful, Erin. What a treasured memory for you and your girl. :-)
Hugs
Jenny
xx
Posted by: Jenny of Elefantz | 12/23/2011 at 03:34 PM
What a beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing. Wishing you & your family a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Sherry | 12/23/2011 at 04:42 PM
What a beautiful story, Erin! The names our grandchildren choose for us are always the BEST! My little granddaughter calls me Goddie (who knows why?) and since she's the first, her cousin has to do the same. Your father sounds a darling, and this Christmas I hope you treasure the wonderful memories of him that you have.
Posted by: Di Jobbins | 12/23/2011 at 05:49 PM
How very special to be names pumpkin! Bet he was very pround of being the only grandpa with that name.
Reminds me of when my husband walked in and said to our very blonde 3 year old granddaughter, "Hello Sunshine". She looked at her mom and said, "Granpa's calling me names!" Yup, they had just had a discussion about how name called was inappo
priate.
Posted by: Pat from FL and MI | 12/24/2011 at 09:08 AM