Okay Okay I'm Caught

Here are my four beautiful children all surrounding me.

I didn't think that anyone would catch on to the little game I started playing with the names of my children. Then this week my visiting teacher (who has not read the Harry Potter books) guessed what I was doing. The official party line is that all my children were named with nature names all plants or animals. But unofficially all the names have secret Harry Potter connotations. Can you figure them out? Here they are:

Willow Ann

Poppy Jeanne

Phoenix Jay

Lily Catherine

PS

The middle names are all family names. They are all names that belong to an honored family member or members. Ann is for Dave's grandma who doesn't have a middle name so somewhere along the way started calling herself Edith Ann. We love the sparkly way Grandma Snow lights up a room and wished that for Willow. Poppy's middle name, Jeanne, is for two beloved people in our lives. Gloria, Dave's aunt who passed away while I was pregnant with Poppy and my mother (Margene) the glue that holds the Taylor family together. We opted to spell it like Gloria's middle name because Gene from my mothers name is the masculine way to spell it. Phoenix's middle name comes from Dave's family his grandfather and all his brothers have Jay as either a first or middle name. Dave has always felt a little jipped because his middle name was Justin instead of Jay so we gave our son the Snow middle name. It also sounds darling with his first name! And of course, Lily she is named for my sister Catherine who is tender hearted and makes the Taylor family a little softer, a little kinder, and a little more Christ-like. What better legacy could I hope for my littlest child.

I am really not fond of overly mushy blogs, but I am less than a week post partum and have a reasonably good hormone excuse...

I am so thankful for the 4 beautiful little spirits I have been entrusted with. I may not have all the blessings that I think others have but I certainly have the ones that matter most! Children are the greatest gift we could have in this life or any life. I take back all the curses I put on your name Grant Jensen and thank you for inspiring me to have Lily through your life of service to your children. I guess you knew that when your two were up there conspiring a way to get her down here. I am thankful for my husband who endulges my moods, and stays up with the baby so I can SLEEP.

HOLDING LILY

Phoenix gets to hold Lily
Poppy

Willow

Mom and her 4 kids

Great Grandma Margaret

Dad and Lily taking a nap. Lily is so tiny, I can't believe how fast they grow.

( I think she likes my snoring)

IT'S A GIRL

6 LB 12 OZ

Well at three this morning Melissa said that her water broke and at 0356 Lily Catherine Snow was born..

Happy Birthday Poppy

Poppy had a great birthday this year. She picked an Island Barbie Cake and got a Rapunzel Barbie and a Rapunzel Barbie DVD. She is an easy child to buy things for. She knows what she wants. Unlike her older sister who cannot decide on anything, Poppy makes up her mind and sticks to it. That hopefully will be a great trait to have in life.

I no longer have 2 three year olds!!! Yeah!!! Those few months are such a pain to have to explain that Poppy and Phoenix are not twins that they are just really close in age.

I love my little Poppy and she makes our family wonderful. I can't imagine life without her.

Can't fool Kaiser

Before any of the ladies get mad at me, I have permission from Melissa to post these pictures. With that said: Today Melissa and I thought if we went to the hospitable and gave every reason (other than having contractions) in the book, that they would induce her. Didn't work!! As you can see by these photos Melissa is very uncomfortable and she wants to get this baby out. They only gave her an I-V and sent us home. We will have to think of something better.

Another day waiting for a new baby.

HE IS INTO EVERYTHING

I knew that Phoenix was in the house but I couldn't find him. I walked by the little washer and dryer set several times, and then I took a closer look.

How he got in there I don't know. What would it be like to be that small again?

Duhhh

Phoenix saying "Duh mom" afterhaving what looked to be some tasty brownies

Do you ever do things that even your kids want to say, "Duh mom"? Well I had one of those moments this morning. Phoenix had a doctors appointment at 9:30 so I got up and got Willow off to school and got Poppy and Phoenix ready for the day. Then we set off to Riverside (Kaiser) where the appointment was. I am now starting my 35 week of pregnancy and am huge. I can't walk very well because of sciatic nerve pain and the list could go on and on. So we find a parking spot and all get into the building. We find the right floor and stand in line to check in. Once we are up at the counter the kind receptionist says, "I think that there must be a mistake, your appointment isn't until TOMORROW at 9:30. Then I look at her and say, "but isn't today Thursday the 7th?" And by this point people are looking at us. (so much for patient confidentiality) She replies, "no sweetie today is Wednesday, but yes your appointment is on Thursay the 7th." So I thank her for her time and say that we will see her agian tomorrow, and waddle off. What can you do? Just shake your head and wonder if your brain really does fall out of your head when you have children. I used to be intelligent, and the thought of confusing a WHOLE DAY would have been absurd. The saddest part is that I wasn't even surprised! I didn't try to think of a good reason why I had mixed up the days. I didn't blame someone else. I just accepted that while laying on the couch or bed my brain must have leaked out my nose or ear or some other orifice without me knowing or caring much. Does your brain come back when your kids leave home or am I doomed to confusion for the rest of my life?

Oh and by the way I am SO bummed that Mitt Romney didn't do better yesterday. We might name this baby after him... Willard. That's not a joke so don't make funnies (Nick, I know it's hard to resist). Dave's always thought that he would have a son named Willard and I am not having any more sons, so either he needs a concubine, a second wife, or this baby gets the name Willard. I have a few others but we'll see hopefully soon we'll see.