Adam and Eve have a new son
Karen S. Kim
The newest member of Rep. Adam Schiff’s family ought to be happy
his parents waited so long to name him.
The task of finding a name for the baby, born 2:47 p.m. Wednesday
at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, proved to be a search punctuated with
silliness, teasing and creativity on the part of Schiff (D-Glendale),
his friends and staff.
The first suggestions to be thrown out were to name Schiff’s baby
based on the Bible, playing on the fact that Schiff’s wife is named
Eve.
“Lots of people suggested Cain or Abel and even Seth,” Schiff said
Friday as he went to pick up mother and baby from the hospital.
“But have you ever tried to say Seth Schiff? We weren’t going to
put the child through that their whole lives.”
Schiff’s staff suggested naming the baby “Early Schiff” or “Late
Schiff” or even “Maximus Schiff,” after the character in the movie
“Gladiator.”
Schiff took the joke a step further, suggesting the baby be called
“G. Maximus Schiff” for gluteus maximus.
But in the end, the 20.5-inch baby weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces was
named Elijah Harris. Adam and Eve just liked the name Elijah. Harris
is the name of Adam Schiff’s grandfather.
“He is a sweet little guy who came out really perfect,” Papa
Schiff said. “His head wasn’t squeezed in a funny way ... He popped
out pretty much ready to roll.”
The next month of the congressman’s life will be filled with
spending time with his new son and 4-year-old daughter Alexa, he
said. Elijah was born just five days after Schiff returned home to
Burbank after congressional session came to a close July 26.
“I would like to say we planned to have a baby in August, but it
was just dumb luck,” Schiff said. “I’m already nostalgic for when
Alexa was littler. I’m just thrilled I get to go through it all
again.”
But Alexa seemed even more excited than Schiff as she welcomed her
baby brother home for the first time Friday. The young girl was
shouting excitedly.
“I feel great having a baby brother,” she said. “I’m so excited.”