What's in a name?

Many people have been asking why we chose the name we did for our little girl. Here are some of our thoughts:

Elisabeth: Having just lost my second baby to an ectopic around Christmastime 2006, I spent a lot of time trying to find answers in the scriptures as to why we couldn't seem to have children. I was deeply touched reading the account of Elisabeth and Zachariah and their desire to have a child. I decided then and there that if we had a girl, she would be named Elisabeth and if we had a boy, he would have John in his name (after Elisabeth's son and my grandpa).

Why the Brittish spelling? That is simple. The Brittish spelling allows us to use different nicknames than those usually associated with the American spelling of Elizabeth. I am not a fan of the name "Liz" for a little girl. I figured having her name spelled with an "S" would eliminate people's need to call her Liz. Furthermore, I love the name Eliisa (Finnish spelling) and I thought that was what we would eventually call her.

Lance has already started to call her Ellie. It fits somehow. I prefer Elisabeth...never being a fan of nicknames myself. So, she is her Papa's Ellie and her Mama's Elisabeth.

Sidenote: After waking up into a drugged state after my ectopic emergency surgery, I told Lance we were going to have twins someday and I was going to name them Elisabeth and Darcy. I think he was a little relieved when we found out we were only expecting one...Not sure he is as big of a Jane Austen fan as I am.

Dorothy: Dorothy was my mom's name and she wanted grandbabies more than any person I have ever met. She would have throughly enjoyed Miss Elisabeth and would have cuddled, spoiled and loved our baby girl. Though far from perfect, my mom had a good heart, a wonderful sense of humor, Christlike compassion and devoted her life to her children. I hope Elisabeth cultivates these good qualities in her life as she grows. I also hope she feels a connection to her Grandma Dorothy who loves her dearly from above.