Without a Title

In naming the first three children, we had quite a bit of debate. We would go back and forth suggesting names we liked, vetoing names we didn't. But when they were born and the doctor held them up for the first time and asked if we had a name, we always did.

Not this time.

If we had gone with the most recent name we had been discussing (which is what we did with Cooper), her name would have been Autumn. But when the doctor asked, we looked at each other and knew that Autumn did not feel right.

So she was known as baby girl. We called and texted family and friends to give the exciting information: "My water broke on its own, then they had to give me pitocin which really got labor going, then an epidural, but the epidural didn't have time to take full effect before she was ready to come! She's our biggest baby at 8 pounds 10 ounces and 20.5 inches long and has a head full of dark hair. Oh, her name? We don't know that yet, but we'll tell you when we do!"

Each nurse that came on duty would ask her name and I would have to say I didn't know. The woman that filled out the complimentary birth certificate worthy of framing kept coming to our room and asking if we had picked something. Each time I sent her away empty handed.

Why the delay?

We had a short list of names that were in the running. My favorite name on the list ended up having kind of a weird meaning and was dropped from consideration. That left a few names that Bryan had suggested. I kept trying them out when I would talk to her and only one name felt right.

And here's where the problem comes. The one name that felt right was the name that I really didn't care for. How could that be? I couldn't give a child a name that I didn't completely love, could I? And the name was popular, which went against my naming policy. It did have a great meaning, but still, I must not be listening correctly for this inspiration.

Except I was pretty sure I was.

So Bryan and I talked and we prayed and kept trying the name. And when he and the kids came to take us home from the hospital, we introduced them to their baby sister, Sophie.

She has a middle name too, but of course I never put middle or last names on the blog. Just know that her full name looks really nice written out, it has a sort of visual balance to it. And look at all four kids' names next to each other: Peter, Cooper, Phoebe, Sophie. They look like they fit, you know?

No, it's not my favorite name, but it's her name. I needed to move myself out of the way to see that. And I sure love this little girl, no matter what her name is.

Christmas Comes This Time Each Year

We had an excellent Christmas with almost no pictures to prove it. The gift opening didn't begin until 9 AM, which was pretty great, though the kids might not agree. The children spent most of the day playing with new toys and reading new books. In fact, the draw of the stuff was so strong that they took it up again this morning and chose to forgo meals in favor of playing. Thank you to both sets of grandparents, great-grandma, and aunts and uncles for their part in making Christmas so fun.

At the top of the stairs, waiting to come down and open presents.

Speaking of meals, Bryan flew solo for most of the food prep this year. I was otherwise occupied taking care of our smallest family member. Christmas dinner was delicious.

Our lovely Christmas dinner.

The only item that I was really responsible for was the pumpkin pie. As I was opening the pumpkin pie spice to add it to the batter, the bottle slipped from my hand, flipped through the air, and landed on its side in the bowl of already measured ingredients. I have no idea how much went in. I had a moment of shock, then dismay, then the realization that there wasn't much I could do other than throw it out or keep going.

I kept going.

It's the best pie I've ever made.

The big news to come out of Christmas dinner (and the whole day) is that while he was chewing, Cooper lost his first tooth.

Cooper, sans tooth.

Bryan discovered it as Cooper was talking. What did we fail to find? The tooth. We think he swallowed it. Also, Bryan told Cooper that he was pretty sure the Tooth Fairy doesn't work during Christmas break. With no tooth to go under a pillow and a delay for the break, I hope the Tooth Fairy remembers to come.

This is what she did while we opened presents, and ate dinner, and even while I took a Christmas nap. It was lovely.

Christmas Christmas

Peter wrote the lyrics to a Christmas song and asked me to write the music. I asked if I could share it on the blog as a poem. He said yes.

Christmas Christmas

Christmas Christmas
It's the time of year to show our kindness, peace, and cheer to everyone
We celebrate this Holy day by Jesus' birth.
Christmas Christmas
Kindness, love, and cheer.
To show our love this Holy day.
Christmas Christmas
We show our gratitude for the Holy day Jesus Christ was born.
Christmas Christmas
Kindness, love, and cheer
To show our love this Holy day.

Nothing says kindness, love, and cheer like a picture of this sweet girl.

Merry Christmas!

One on One Time

Guess Who Decided to Join Us

Hey Guys, I Know Kung Fu

We experienced our first kung fu testing and advancement ceremony this week. We thought it would last the duration of their regular one hour class. We were wrong. It took almost three and a half hours. Three classes were tested together, no doubt to inspire the newbies to keep going so they could someday achieve the awesomeness of those testing for their black belts. Lots of "ooohs" and "aaahs" followed the more advanced moves. My favorite was when they were testing with equipment and I heard Peter yell out from his position on the sidelines, "Nun chucks!?!"

It sounds kind of mean, but if I had known it was going to go so long (an hour and a half past bedtime), I would have sent Bryan and the boys without us. I am glad I got to see them show what they've learned, but man, that thing was loooooong. Thank goodness I had food stored in my bag. Phoebe and I shared an apple and what was left of a bag of goldfish crackers.

Here Peter and Cooper are being presented with their new white and yellow belts, a step-up from the white belts they previously wore.

Now they're turning and showing their certificates saying they passed that first level. Also, the whole room applauded for them. The teacher called kids up in familial groupings, probably to both save time and provide good photo ops for the parents.

Here's the whole group that tested and advanced and their teachers. This is why we sat on folding chairs for three hours.

A handful of moms came over and said they were so surprised to see me there and how they thought I'd have been home with a new baby. One told me that she kept thinking about me on my due date, hoping I was well. The sweet feeling of camaraderie among the kids and the moms is my favorite part of this kung fu adventure. It's also good that someone else gets to hand out discipline for an hour twice a week.

Tiny Dancer

This week Phoebe's dance class held a parent observation day and had a little holiday party. They also performed a short Christmas dance. I'm pretty sure it was the first time they had all done the routine together. The kids got to choose where they stood and were invited to wear costumes. Rumor has it that they'll start learning more actual dance steps in the new year.

Bonus Level

I'm four for four now folks. Another due date has come and gone without the arrival of a baby.

The good news is that I was able to attend both Phoebe's parent observation day in her dance class and the boys' first kung fu belt promotion. I wouldn't have been able to go to either if the baby had already been born. The not so good news is that I'm still pregnant.

I do like the kids to come when they're ready, but I will admit, this is the most uncomfortable I have ever been during pregnancy. And that might be a bit of an understatement. Walking and rolling over in bed are both quite painful, as is changing position from sitting to standing and vice versa. I have officially started to waddle. I'm pleased that I put it off as long as I did, but I couldn't escape it forever.

What's funny is, if my due date wasn't changed, I would still technically have a few weeks to go. And there's a chance that the first due date was the right one. I keep reminding myself of that to try to keep me patient.

Here's to my bonus (or maybe not) week of pregnancy!

Every Day a Princess

I've written a few times about Phoebe's intense love of all things Princess. It hasn't diminished. She still spends time each day in a princess dress, or a crown, as this picture illustrates. Every book that she picks from the library either has to be about princesses or ballerinas. Again, see the picture.

The week of Thanksgiving we took the kids to see Frozen. We all loved it and I cried more than once. This movie has not one, but two Disney princesses. It also shifts focus from romantic love to familial love, something that I appreciated, though there is still an aspect of romance. The music is fantastic, we've been singing it since we saw it. I recommend it if you haven't seen it, though it does have a few scenes that might be too scary for tiny kids (there's a giant ice monster and some sadness in the beginning).

I think the combination of that movie and the princess audio books Phoebe has been getting from the library led to a new question.

Phoebe: Mom, what's true love?

Me: (trying to figure out how to accurately answer that question in a concise and age-appropriate manner for a three-year-old) It's when you really like someone and want to be with them all the time and don't just think they're handsome or pretty.

Phoebe: Oh. Does Daddy have true love for you?

Me: Yes.

Phoebe: And do you have true love for Daddy?

Me: Yes. And when it's true love you want to do kind things for them and they make you want to be the best person you can be. If you're mean and grumpy when you're with someone, that's not true love. True love makes you want to be good and kind.

She seemed satiated by my answer. I didn't expect to have to define that concept quite so early for her.

One other side effect of the princess stuff? Think back on all the princess stories you know. How many of them have both parents still living? Most of her games now start with, "Let's pretend our parents died. You're our aunt and we live with you."

I don't love that game.

Can't Catch Me

Cooper gets a homework assignment each week. Sometimes the work is solitary, sometimes it requires group participation. Last week our whole family was asked to decorate a paper gingerbread man. I could have taken charge and dictated what it would look like, handing out tasks to each of the children.

But I didn't.

Cooper and Peter had equal say (though Peter really wanted to call the shots) and Phoebe's biggest job was practicing with her safety scissors nearby. I mostly supervised and then drew the face. Sadly, Bryan was at work and didn't get to join in the fun.

Peter designed the pants (are they a form of lederhosen?) and mittens, Cooper got really excited about the buttons, the hair, and the trim. I'm just glad we got it done.

I do wonder, what is the point of a family assignment? Are they concerned that we aren't spending time together so they're creating family togetherness? Maybe they want the quality of the work to improve? Or are they just running out of things for a Kindergartner to do on their own?