I did not have to do it beautifully every hour to be their mother.

When I completed the birth-registration arrangements, I spoke to Dana and the appropriate registrar about the names and any disputed issues.

We used the names recorded through the proper process: Harper Hale Prescott and Owen Hale Prescott.

Hale remained part of both names.

Prescott was there too.

I had not included one name as a prize and withheld it from the other.

The decisions about naming and legal parentage had to be handled correctly; neither would be settled by Garrett’s preference for a son.