Baby Journal (Part 4)- The Home Stretch

Get yourself caught up. Read Baby Journal Part 1, Baby Journal Part 2 and Baby Journal Part 3.

A quick note to my more web-affluent family members and friends: When you read this and find out the baby's name which we've held as a secret up until now, don't tell anyone else!

Entry date: 3/1/08

It has been such a long time since I have last written about our pregnancy. Since then, there have been a number of updates. First, God has really taken care of the baby. We went back for another sonogram as a follow-up to the concerns the doctor had last time and all is well. Our little child has no more brain cyst and her bowels were normal colored. This was plenty of reason to praise the Lord, right? Second, two weeks later, we went in for yet another sonogram to determine the gender and found out we're going to have a beautiful daughter! Finally, we have come up with (and agreed upon) a full name for our daughter, Zoë Elizabeth Brown.

We wanted to pick a unique first name (since Brown is so common) and we wanted a longer middle name. Zwh, or Zoë, is Greek for "life." We fully acknowledge that God has given us this life and it's His life to take care of and protect in the womb (and later on, too!). Elizabeth is Hebrew for "God's promise" and we believe that God has promised to take care of Zoë. Her name is a testament to God's provision in and protection over her life. It's amazing to realize that God has been teaching us faith through all of this too.

Karen and I just finished our birthing class at the midwives office. It was most useful for both of us. Now we are just waiting on and trusting in the Lord. As has been the case throughout, Karen has been such a HUGE warrior through all of this. We have a little less than two months left and she's already had her 1st trimester symptoms come back, but she's been very strong the whole time. It really is nothing for me to put up with mood swings and memory loss when I know that she is dealing with sleepless nights, shortness of breath, a shift in her center of gravity and constant punches and kicks from our daughter!

Little Zoë you are a blessing sent by God. We love you so dearly and know that God is working in your life even now. We have been praying over your life that God would have His perfect will personified in you. Countless times I have put my hands on Karen's belly and prayed over you in the womb. God has been with you, Zoë, and He has protected you. We know that He has amazing things planned for your life. Even now we see how you are put at peace when worship music is played. Even now we see the beginnings of something incredible in this family. I cannot wait to see what plans He has in store for you.

And Lord, I pray now that you would continue to create a wonderful human being in Zoë. God, we completely and without reserve dedicate her to Your purposes. She is Yours, Lord. I thank you so much that you have entrusted her to us. I pray that your Holy Spirit would infuse her and cause her to great and mighty things for your kingdom. I also pray that you would continue to work in our lives so that we might be the parents that you've called us to be.

Above all, Lord, I pray that You would be glorified through the life of our little child. Amen.