Welcome Faith Abilene

 Baby quality control. These two tell me every little thing going on with Faith. I'm told about nails to trim, skin to apply lotion to, poopy diapers, sleep in eyes. They also like to report any movement.

"Mom, she stuck out her tongue"
"Mom, she's waving at me"
"Mom, she's kicking"

                                                                          8lbs 11 oz.

 We were told by the doctors and nurses that she looked like a 2 week old, not a newborn. This is a newborn diaper. She barely fits into it. Birth story to follow.

                                                           Proud and smitten Daddy.

                                                            The makings of a big sister.

Ryan and I have tried to decide a girls name that we liked.  No arguing. Just many conversations that did not lead up to a name.  I would make lists, hand him a list at the end of the day, and he'd veto the names.  He'd give me names, I'd look up the meaning, and they would also be vetoed. I had always hoped of naming all of my girls flora, fauna or nature names. This time around...I thought it wouldn't work. If we could just find a name that cemented with both of us, I'd be fine with it.  We liked the first name of Faith.  We couldn't figure out a middle name. Then one day Ryan came home form work...

Ryan: "Shels, did I tell you what the baby's name is?"

(He said it with such confidence and authority. As if the stars had aligned and a voice form heaven had said it was so.) I laughed and asked him what the baby's name was.

Ryan: "Faith Abilene"

I was shocked, in a good way. I really liked how it sounded. Now I just needed to find out what it meant...

Faith- Belief in God and acceptance of God's will, loyalty, confidence.  The Bible defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. 

Abilene- Land of meadows, Place of green grass, Hazelnut or filbert, A city in the ancient Holy Land mentioned in the book of Luke

Abilene: (land of meadows), a city situated on the eastern slope of Antilibanus, in a district fertilized by the river Barada (Abana). It was part of the original Holy Land set apart for the Israelites. The city was 18 miles from Damascus,on the way to Heliopolis (Baalbec). It stood in a remarkable gorge called Suk Wady Barada Mentioned in Lu 3:1 as the tetrarchy of Lysanias at the time when John the Baptist began his ministry. The district derived its name from Abila, its chief town, which was situated, according to the Itinerarium Antonini, 18 Roman miles from Damascus.


When I researched the location of Abilene, it spoke of a fertile, green land surrounded by dry, infertile lands.  Like a larger oasis. It is also currently a border land. It is next to the anti-Lebanese ridge. Where many battles have been fought over the centuries. 

I truly think it is neat that the name has a Biblical and a nature meaning. Ryan didn't even know what the name meant.  
Welcome home, our sweet precious gift.