Itsy Bitsy Spider

We sat down with our 6 children on the eve of delivering babe #7, and asked them for suggestions for a girl's name. We were already set on Luke, but we were at a quandary for a girl's name that everyone liked. So our table discussion the night before my planned cesarean was focused on pink.

Several options given included Dorcas, Tabitha, Rebekah, Jubilee, and some more colorful options like, Ravioli. Then Mary came forward with what she concluded to be a shoe-in...

Itsy Bitsy Spider.

After laughing ourselves silly we tried to explain that we were serious about our request. We really wanted their opinions since we were stumped. But we only got the same list as before - mostly names which the kids had heard us discuss, ad nauseam, and which we still could not agree. So I left for the hospital the following morning a little nervous about the delivery, and without a single clue as to what we would call a girl should we deliver one.

My delivery went incredibly well! I can not thank those who prayed on my behalf enough for their faithfulness in interceding for me. The anesthesiologist was an "old friend," having worked at the hospital where several of my older children were born, and was actually in attendance for 2 of my previous births. He is noted, by most on the peninsula, to be one of the best in his field. He was perfectly willing to allow Christopher into the OR during my spinal administration. And while I am recognizably a "difficult stick", Dr. Arakaki did a beautiful job of limiting my discomfort to as little as possible. The delivery itself was fairly straight-forward, with very few complications, and it wasn't long before our obstetrician was telling Christopher to prepare himself for the announcement of birth, and gender.

"Oh my goodness, honey! It's a girl! We have another girl!"

We were both speechless, and not just a little emotional about our newest addition arriving in perfect pinkness to match her gender. At 7lbs, 1/2 ounce and 20 inches long she was our smallest baby, but her tiny features were absolute perfection, topped with swirls of dark hair. The pediatrician asked us what her name was...

We didn't know. We looked at one another in blank surprise that somehow we had arrived at this moment, and still were without a name. The answer suddenly became clear. 

Itsy Bitsy Spider. 

And so she was (for over 24 hours) until Christopher realized, with certainty, that we held in our arms, Phoebe. He was right. It fit her beautifully.

Phoebe Grace.