Habemus Nomen

I'm woefully behind. Last weekend was Monika's wedding (yay!) and I was away on a silent retreat this past weekend (did you read the best part? SILENT?) with two insanely busy work weeks in between. I'm almost through with a giant freelance project that has taken up all my other hours, but that should be done just in time for...Kelly's wedding/election/JVL's surgery/three weekends of visitors/Thanksgiving. Just trying to manage the expectations of all four of my readers. : )

Anyway, the important news is, we have a name for the baby. Two, apparently. Thanks to Cody, our resident meteorologist, who continues to be obsessed with hurricanes, and fascinated by their naming conventions. He likes to study satellite pictures of his favorites. (Also, did I mention he's reading? I feel like this deserves its own post, so I will try to remember. It's totally awesome.)

So the week before last, he came downstairs and gravely announced, "Mom? I have it. I have a name for Peanut if she's a girl, and a name for Peanut if he's a boy!" (Cordelia: "I want a girl! Actually I want a boy!") I said, "That is awesome, buddy. Because Daddy and I are not having a whole lot of luck in that department. What did you come up with?"

He replied, with complete sincerity, "Oh Mommy, if Peanut is a boy, we will call him Floyd Hugo. Or, possibly Floyd Andrew, because Hurricane Andrew is awesome too. But probably Floyd Hugo."

Me, choking back laughter: Oh, wow! And...what about if Peanut is a girl?

CJP: Then we will call her Irene Katrina Last. Isn't that the most beautiful name you have ever heard?

Me: What a name indeed. I'll tell you what: we'll put it in the suggestion box.

CJP: I will do that. Where is that box?

Me: It's just an expression. I mean Daddy and I will take it under advisement.

CJP: Okay, but I think we are all set. I will probably just start calling Peanut Floyd or Irene. Mom, I really think when this Peanut comes out of your belly, he or she is going to be a Category 5!

Me: I'm kind of hoping not, actually. I feel like we have enough storms here. I'm sort of hoping Peanut is more of a light breeze. If that.

CJP: I'm hoping Peanut is a girl. Because then, you and Peanut and Cordelia will sleep in, for one million hours, while Daddy and I are outnumbered and surrounded. Then we will be the only guys. We will go off and have guy time and let you three girls sleep all day.

Me: That sounds so amazing. One million hours. Yes. Well, now I hope it's a girl, too. But do you know that little babies don't sleep for millions of hours at a time? They wake up to eat many, many, many times a day and night. Like, one million times a day.

CJP: Yes. Peanut will drink milk a lot. From your belly. Right?

Me: So, any other thoughts on names?