What's In A Name?

Everyone around me is either pregnant or just had a new baby. Alright, that is a my-mom-ism (i.e. exaggeration), but it sure feels like there is a babyboom happening all around us. I am really happy that all of the children being born will be close in age but it has us already considering the timing of baby bejjani #2 and I am not sure that I am ready to have another baby so soon. I had a dream the other night that I was carrying around shopping bags full of stuff as Jenn took me through houses that were for sale. I kept knocking things over. I stopped to take a pregnancy test in one of the bathrooms and Lucas and Julianna wouldn't stop pestering me and trying to get in to see me. Hanan came by and I got angry with the kids which caused Hanan to get mad at me. It was all very strange, and when I woke up I started to count on my hands how many months remained between now and June (we had discussed getting pregnant in June so that I would be back to work for 6 months, just long enough to go off on maternity leave again). When I counted 3 fingers I started to panic. June--June is too soon. It's too soon for so many reasons. Some of them selfish, some of them entirely unselfish.

Although B3 the 2nd (B3T2) might be months away from conception (assuming we even get pregnant again), we have been tossing names around. There is a whole lot to a name. Rowan was chosen because John and I both independently liked the name-I liked it because it was my great-grandmother's maiden name, John liked it because it is a tree name and he likes strong names, and loves trees. Rowan has meaning. I'd like to chose something for a new baby in the same way. I think that is why I am particularly fond of the two baby girl names that we have added to our list recently: Willow (a tree) and Albi (meaning: "my heart" in Arabic). Albi would be called "Libby". Yes, "my heart" is special on its own. But I am attached to the name because it also reminds me of my grampa- Albert, who as you know, is around me all the time (he made an appearance again today in fact.). Her middle name will be "Hannah", after her dad. I guess I am anticipating a girl this time? Nah, I really wouldn't mind another boy but unfortunately boy names are much harder to come up with. Thank goodness we have 12+months to worry about it...

And if you are wondering about grampa's appearance... Rowan was doing his smiling-at-the-wall thing and I said: "Say hi to grampa". We were in the basement and I was about to turn the TV volume off. I said in my head:" if I turn this off and it comes back on, it means grampa is here". Yes, the TV volume turned back on, not once, but twice. I bet you think I am nuts right? Don't worry, I think I am too.