not so zen momma

So I heard through the grapevine that some people thought that West's middle names were an early April Fools joke... we knew they might not be popular, but a joke, they are not! :-)

Here's the explanation:

West Rufus FredWest - This is the only name picked simply because we liked it. It entered discussions because West was a temporary character on Heroes. It stayed in contention because of it's literal meaning - much like Brooke - and how well it works with Van. It also reflects Oklahoma's strong connection to "W" names - Will, Wiley, Woody, Wayne, Wayman, and Wilma.
Rufus - Rufus is the name of Derek's grandfather, Papa. He is a kind, gentle man - someone who always has something encouraging to say. When I was pregnant, he walked up to me and said "Thank you for this, I know nobody has said that to you yet."
What I hope West learns from Papa: Kindness, encouragement, strength, endurance, and love of the Lord.

Fred - Fred is the name of my grandfather, Pa. West will be the only grandchild from my sister or me that Pa will never meet, as he passed away last year. Pa was always there for my sister and me - he pushed me to value education by excelling at school and taking time to learn on my own.
What I hope West learns from Pa: Always give second (third or fourth) chances to people, love your family, value hard work, and always keep learning.

Donovan "Van" MichaelDonovan - Donovan is Derek's middle name, which comes from an Adcox family tradition of including the name "Don." Derek's dad is Billy Don; Derek's sister is Felicia Dawn. We mainly choose this name to honor Derek and his family.
What I hope Van learns from Derek: To be faithful, handy, quick to help, loyal, strong, and a little goofy.

Michael - Michael is my dad's name. It's no secret that my dad and I are a lot alike - we share the same sense of humor that tends to get us in a lot of trouble (and laughter). He also is a hardworking man - something both our families value.
What I hope Van learns from my Dad: Quick wit, strong sense of self, independence, and sense of humor.