A question of names... and some way cute pictures

So... we are kind of on the fence about names. As much as we love their names and the meanings and thought behind them, we are worried about how hard it is going to be. Not so much for Yenenesh, but for Melese. NOBODY can pronounce it. We end up saying it about 5 times and then whoever is trying to say it just flaps their hand and says with a laugh "Oh! I'll never get that one!" Plus, it sounds just like Melissa. We talked to Yenenesh about it, and she says she wants another name. We gave her a list of names that we liked, both Ethiopian and more traditionally American, and she chose Etta. I love the name. I chose it for the list because it is part of one of my grandmother's names. It also means pearl, and while my other grandma is named Opal (Opal was on the list we gave her too, Grandma...) I thought Pearl was kind of an homage. So... Etta Yenenesh Shenkafa and then our last name. She chose Etta Yenenesh instead of Yenenesh Etta. Yeni also chose a name she thought would be good for Melese from a list. For him she chose Malachai. I love this name too... although it would make his name awfully sing songy... Malachai Melese Shenkafa Schutz. Snicker. So, I love the names. Yenenesh picked them. Melese can actually say Malachai, while he can't say his current name. But... it seems weird. They are Yenenesh and Melese. How do we just decide that their identity will change. Thoughts?
Melese... or as Yenenesh calls him "Meloo" or "Meloona"

My big girl:

Loveliness:

I kind of love this one because it is a scene often played out at our house. Yenenesh, although she has her moments of defiance, is clearly my most compliant child (she is also the oldest, which may play a large role). I told them to sit down and smile so I could take a picture and Meron (who is clearly a class clown and delights in getting a laugh) started making farting noises. Melese finds this hilarious and Yenenesh is appalled.

Konjit Yenenesh. She is much harder to take pictures of than Mer is. She is a gorgeous girl, but it doesn't translate as easily for some reason. I like this one because you can see how lovely she is.

Cuteness.

I dig the toes. Can you see Melese's? My grandpa calls that "depression toes" and says it is from wearing shoes that were too small as a baby. That seems plausible... especially since Meloo's feet are basically squares. His second toe is on each foot is completely about the others.. pushed out of the way.

We like to call this the baby nest.

And this is what happens when you let these three:


Have unlimited access to hair supplies and your head. If you see them coming with spray bottles and combs, run people. Run fast.