Our Sweet Baby Girl

Nick and I couldn't be more excited to be expecting a baby girl. We've had a feeling since the beginning that our little one was a girl so we weren't very surprised when our ultrasound confirmed it.  Something about my sweet husband just made me know he would have a daughter. He is so tender, so protective, so loving towards me..and I just knew God would give him another girl to love on. Nick is so excited to be a Daddy to a baby girl. He is already nervous for the day when she brings her first boyfriend home and already knows she will have him wrapped around her finger :)

Before we knew for sure it was a girl, we already had our potential daughter named.  Actually, I've had her named before I even met my husband which is why I am so excited to share her name and can't imagine holding it in another 20 weeks…

Eleanor Salmons

a.k.a 'Elle'

Named after my Great-Grandmother, Eleanor Tadda

(middle name TBD)

I grew up with an amazing Great-Grandmother, who we referred to as Nana. She was the most amazing woman I've ever known. I loved every moment I spent with her as a kid and young adult. Every memory I have of her is so precious to me.. hearing about stories of her life, eating ham sandwiches on rye bread in her little apartment, spending the holidays with her in our home..every moment was magic and I would do anything to have one last chance to see her again.

Although I could go on forever about how precious my Nana was to me, there are three attributes of her that I'll never forget. These are the three things that made her the woman that I adored, and the reasons I wanted my daughter to be named after such an amazing woman.

• Nana was a follower and lover of Jesus. Even as a young girl with no concept of Jesus Christ, I knew my Nana had a strong belief in Him and an unwavering faith. I fully believe that I came to know Jesus because of the prayers that Nana was praying on my behalf. I am so grateful for her faith as it paved the way for me to find my own.

• Nana taught me about acceptance and love through her care for my Great Aunt. Nana had a daughter (my Great Aunt) with Williams Syndrome whom she loved deeply and devoted her entire life to. Despite a lot of opposition from schools and doctors, Nana believed in my great Aunt, Lorrie, and raised her well. As a little girl, I didn't even realize Lorrie had a disability. Nana loved her that well. She accepted Lorrie and loved her as she would anyone else. This was my first exposure to a person with a disability, and I believe I learned to love and accept people with disabilities because of the love Nana showed Lorrie. My heart for people with disabilities was grown out of Nana's heart for Lorrie and I couldn't be more grateful that she instilled that in me at a young age.

• Finally, because of Nana's faith in the Lord and unwavering love for people, Nana was extremely generous. She constantly gave to people, whatever she could give. I don't believe she had a selfish bone in her body. Nana loved to help the people she loved by giving whatever resources she had. 

Over the next 5 months, this is my prayer for baby Eleanor, that she would grow to be just like her Great-Great-Grandmother, the greatest woman I've ever known.

My sweet Nana on her 95th birthday in 2008, with Lorrie in the background :) I miss her so much.