on the meaning of a little girl's name

So once we had a girl it was time to pick a name. We had about 15 names that we liked, but nothing we had settled on. Originally (when I was pregnant with Bentley) our name was Elizabeth Grace, but for many reasons I didn't want to do it anymore.


The morning Lily was born I was reading my Bible on the couch while drinking my coffee. I read this passage from Matthew 6:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.



While I was reading it I couldn't help but remember how I had loved the name Lillian- I love that it can be shortened to Lily too. So I was reading that passage and just reminding myself that I shouldn't worry about all the things I worry about. I love the beauty of a field of lilies- I love the image that is painted here by Christ that God painted that field of lilies and they're just flowers- how much more does he love us and paint the story of our lives?
So we've named our daughter Lillian as a reminder to not worry and to trust in the Lord for our needs- to seek Him and His righteousness knowing that He will tenderly and perfectly provide for our needs. We hope that her name will spur you on to remember the same is true of you and how much you are loved by your Creator- the perfect painter of the lilies. :)

Elizabeth is David's mom's name. We like to include family into our names when we can. (Lily is actually my great great grandmother's name and David's grandmother's aunt who she liked very much!) When we think of David's mom- we think of a woman who has an enormous amount of faith and trust in the Lord. Fear plays no role in her decisions to carry out the Lord's work. I pray that Lillian will know this about her grandmother and will also have a great trust in her Lord and Savior.

on the birth of a little girl

Everyone is always interested in the birth story so I'll just go ahead and it put it on here- if you aren't interested, then don't read this post! Don't sorry- there's nothing gross. :)


A little history- both boys were born the day after my 38 week appointment. However, I was 3-4 cm dilated at that appt with them.
Monday afternoon she was still breech, but had flipped by evening- so I bounced on the yoga ball for an hour or so.

Tuesday I had a doc appt and found out I was still a cm- but that baby was head down!

Wednesday morning I woke up to pee and went back to bed and felt a contraction that was a little stronger than the normal braxton hicks- but the real clue was that I hadn't had any other contractions through the night (at least that woke me up) which told me this might be different too. So I laid there for a half hour and they kept coming and then I started timing them.... 6 min apart-then 4-5 min- So I had my coffee, read my Bible- still coming- started laundry- cleaned the kitchen- vacuumed the living room- still coming. (Thankfully the boys slept in until after 8 AM so I could do so many things!!) I called David and told him if they were still coming I'd meet at the hospital around 10 AM. Then I called my back up babysitter, Kristen Egger to let her know she might be needed! All the while I am still worried that they are going to just go away and I will look like a fool!
David ended up coming home because he either needed to leave the hospital then or stay through the shift which would end around 9 PM. So I finished up loose ends- got the boys taken care of and we drove to the hospital.

We arrived around 10 AM and they determined I was 3-4 cm and would keep me since I had tested positive for Group B Strep and needed the antibiotics. Around noon they started the first round of antibiotics and David and waked the halls of the hospital. The nurse just checked for baby's heart rate every half hour. Around 3:30 they started round 2 of antibiotics. At 4 they checked me and I was about 5 cm and so she broke my water. Hutzel Hospital is a major hospital in Detroit and receives many patients who don't receive prenatal care so they have a ton of rules due to having so many high risk patients. So after they broke my water they didn't let me get out of bed until baby Lillian was born at almost 10 PM. First we watched a little tv, then we turned off all the lights and I listened to music from my phone (love pandora!!) Then around 7:30 I had everything off so I could concentrate through the contractions. The doctor checked me and I was a 7. I was a little discouraged because usually I show up at the hospital at 7 cm! From there things were very painful, but David was such a champ! He totally helped me breathe through each contraction and by 9:40 I was ready to push. It took about 4 contractions- the doctor was sooo amazing. She didn't break down the bed or put on the whole "deliver the baby" garbs on- she just sat next to me on the bed and let me push her out on my side. She said, "Now when you push her out I am going to set her right on your chest, OK?!" That was probably the most encouraging part of the night- knowing she was going to be here so soon. It was so chill- quiet, dark, and fairly calm. Once baby was out I sat up and looked and announced, "It's a girl! We have a girl! Oh my gosh you're a girl!" The doctor put her right on my chest where they cut her cord. They let me nurse her pretty much right away as well. She is a great eater.
At the time it seemed like the longest day of my life and I thought it was harder than the boys- but looking back it actually wasn't so bad. God answered so many prayers for us- that she would turn from breech to vertex, that she would come while David had 4 days off, and that I would get the antibiotics in so we wouldn't have to worry about if she contracted the GBS.

I feel so overwhelmed with joy to have this sweet baby girl. I didn't realize how badly I wanted a girl until she arrived.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers leading up to the birth of our daughter. :)



This picture was taken soon after she was born.