She's Here!

Karis Elizabeth

Karis is one week old today! Our sweet baby girl arrived as scheduled at 8:13 a.m. on July 20th. She weighed in at 8 pounds flat and 20.5 inches long. To our delight Karis earned the reputation of being a very mellow baby in the nursery. YES! On the day we left the hospital a nurse even welled up as she said goodbye to her. Of course, I welled up too, as in, I really have to leave this little haven??

How has this week turned into a beautiful memory already?! Leaving behind the thoughts of a sore body and weepy eyes, I'll (hopefully) only remember lots of snuggling and visiting with loved ones in the days to come! I'll think of funny instances too like when Caroline repeated verbatim the lactation consultant's instructions for encouraging "let down" and when Karis tinkled on my sister's hand as she was ooing and ahhing over her teeny bottom. Of course, my heart is busting with moments like watching Caro's and Jacks' enamored faces, Donald whispering in my ear upon delivery "You got your Karis," breathing in her baby breath nose to nose as if we're in our own little peaceful bubble, and those first sleepy grins with the miniature quivery lips. I could go on and on. Ahh, sweetness.

Naturally, her name has sparked some interest, so here's the inside scoop. Karis is pronounced like "Paris" and is my best second grade phonetic spelling. Charis is a Greek word which is translated grace. Basically, when you read the word grace in the New Testament it was penned charis. I suppose in my heart there is something about the thought of Paul, for example, saying and writing that word 2,000 years ago under the direct inspiration of Karis' creator Himself that thrills me.

If you're still curious, grace is interpreted to mean a free, undeserved gift, most specifically Jesus' sacrifice of Himself for us, and the empowerment of God given to every believer in Jesus as their savior. On a less inspiring note, Elizabeth is my middle name and means "an oath of God; a worshipper of God". Wow. Now that I have thought that through her name could seem very religious. Eww, Lord, let it not be!! Our precious gift of grace is named out of my sheer love and delight for Jesus. That and I could not think of another middle name in all those 9 months!