The Name of Our First Child....

Yes, it is true... I think we have finally decided on a name!  Here was our criteria:

- Pretty and feminine sounding

- Unique but not too weird

- Could picture her as a baby, teenager, and adult 

- Not on the top 100 list of most common names

- Had to just feel right

- Annnnd this wasn't necessarily a deciding factor, but neither of us tended to like names of kids that we currently know or anyone in our current friends circle.

Scott's own personal list in addition to our list:

- Could not be a gender neutral name

- Could not be the name of a place, city, state, country, or territory

- Could not be the name of a street

- Could not be too unique

In addition, if the name was Irish, I gave it extra bonus points (I'm a quarter Irish), and if it had a nice meaning, it got extra extra extra points.

So when we found a name that we both liked that fit ALL the criteria... we started calling her that for awhile just to try it out.  I really wanted to pick 3 names that we loved, and then wait until she arrived to see what she "looked" like.  But ultimately, we don't have 3 names that we like, we have one.  And we keep calling her by her name, and nothing else feels right.

After much deliberation.... her name is going to be......... (drumroll please!)

And if you're having trouble reading that since it's not the greatest picture in the world.... the name is going to be,  

~~~~Kaelyn Grace ~~~

Kaelyn- an Irish name meaning "pure beauty"

Grace - means "God's favor"

Her name is going to be Kaelyn because she truly is going to be "pure beauty," and Grace because not only is it a beautiful name, but the almighty, God of the universe extends his everlasting grace to us, and that is one of the most powerful things in the world!  I found another definition in an online dictionary.... Grace means "the exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another" (ardictionary.com).  Amazing! 

So, all good things.... she will be pure beauty and grace, and the name is a reflection of how God has blessed us so tremendously by giving her to us.  Perfection!

We hope you love it as much as we do!