The Name

His name will be Elijah James. The majority of people I've told this to have liked the name. A few seemed puzzled about the decision, not that it was their decision to make. We chose Elijah from the bible.


Elijah

Language/Cultural Origin: Hebrew

Inherent Meaning: The Lord is My God.

Spiritual Connotation: Spiritual Champion

Scripture: Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

James is a family name. It is my father's and grandfather's name.


James

Language/Cultural Origin: Hebrew

Inherent Meaning: Supplanter.

Spiritual Connotation: Nurtured

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

I cannot wait to meet my son, Elijah James.

Mark 11:22-25

Elijah's Foot.

Elijah's Profile.

Elijah's Boy Parts.

Words can not explain how excited I am that we're having a boy.

So for now I'll remain speechless.

Mark 11:22-25 (The Message)

22-25Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake'—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Meet Elijah James

Here is Elijah James in all his glory! You're looking at him as though he is sitting on glass above your head. You can see his two legs and his manhood right there in the middle.


He is growing just fine. We saw all 10 fingers and toes today. His heartbeat was 141 beats/min. He weighs about 11 ounces (which is a little big for now, better big than small).


Watching this baby grow from cells into a living, heartbeating, breathing baby is something that is hard to put words to. It literally leaves me speechless and in awe of the power of God. HE's (God's) real. I saw him today.

Isn't She Beautiful

I'm Blessed.

I mean really, undoubtedly blessed.

Sometimes it's hard to see it, getting caught up in day to day business. Psalms 139: 7-12 says

"Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute— you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

God is everywhere. Look for him or not...he's everywhere. He's in your busy schedule and he's in the most peaceful afternoon. It's up to us to take the time to see him, talk to him, to grow in a relationship with our Father God. A God that craves relationship. So here's where I'm at: this point to choose to see who God is. He is far more than this God who sits and heaven and moves people around like a pawn on a chess board. He is a God that is closer than our next breath (Job 27:3). He is a God that loves his people (John 3:16 among many, many other scriptres) and wants nothing more than a living, breathing relationship with. So I enourage to stop. Enjoy God. Enjoy the people around you. Enjoy their differences. Enjoy their life.

I only want to revel in the love of my wife right now. I want to enjoy every aspect of her. She's carrying my child, that God is perfectly molding this minute.

Yes. I am blessed.

Peace out. Aaron

Baby Names

So we've been talking about baby names for the past couple weeks, and maybe it will get easier once we know if it's a boy or girl. For now, though, it is quite a complicated thing. Atleast for me. I mean a name is forever and it's one of the first things that defines him or her. It seems copmlicated and I don't know that it should.



I guess it is more complicated if it's a girl because if it's a boy he'll be named Elijah Joel Russell. But a girl. Here it gets all copmlicated. Katie likes the name Kyleigh Ann, which I like. We've also talked about the names Hannah and Hailey Grace. Whats in a name?



Feel free to throw down any names you might have rolling around that head of yours.



Stay tuned. We have to have a name, atleast by December 11th.



Peace Out. Aaron

1st Ultrasound

This is our 1st Ultrasound.

Notice it's from May 12.

Our second ultrasound is Monday, July 14th.

Thats when we find out if it's going to be a boy or girl.

Katie wants a girl.

I don't know what I want.

A boy would be fun because, well, it would be a boy.

He'll play sports, camp, rough house ad be a boy.

It seems obvious enough.

But a girl...well she might just have me around her finger.

She'll be sure to be "Daddy's girl".

So more than anything I just want it to be, as cliche as it sounds,

a happy, healthy baby with 10 fingers and 10 toes.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

Peace out.

Aaron

18 Weeks & Counting

The baby is on it's way. This is how I've decided to document the journey. It's not for you. It's for me, but I'm inviting you on the journey.

Enjoy.

I revel in your beauty.
I rejoice in your grace.
I want to hold you to me
and look into your face.
This joy that overflows
only grows
at the mere mention of a baby
and saves me
from this mundane
everythings the same
everyone's to blame
hopes gone to shame
day
that gets cast over me
but I refuse to believe
and choose to see
the beauty in the trees
hope in the breeze
this peace consumes me
world
created for us
loved by me
for this perfect
sleeping baby.

My baby.