Shes here. Click on the picture above to see her video.

Eliana Norma Stark

God has answered our prayers with a gift of sunlight

who is full of courage and great strength.

Behind the Name:

Eliana –

The day after it was confirmed that we were pregnant, Dave went out and bought our first Baby Name Book.  We spent several hours that day sitting on our patio reading through names.  Some names made it on the possible list, some names were immediately crossed off and others brought great laughter. 

Throughout the next few weeks we each spent time with the book and marked the names that we liked.  I have had names that I have liked since I was little but none of them felt right when I sat with them and tried to apply them to this life inside of me.  As I read through the book, I came across Eliana.  To my knowledge, I had never heard it before.  The spelling caught me at first, and then I read the meaning.  It is originally a Hebrew name that mean’s “The Lord has responded,” or “God has answered our prayers.”  That is exactly how I feel about this beautiful baby inside me.  So Eliana suddenly took the number one place on my list. 

I continued to write down other names that I liked, but none seemed to feel right except Eliana.  As I researched the name further I found that in Arabic it means “sun” or “sunlight”, and one of the websites mentioned it meant “gift.”  It was in my research of the name, that I came across the “Elianas Song.”  I cry every time I hear it.  I would have loved to write her a namesake song, but this one by Watermark completely encapsulates how I feel. 

I love names that are unique and have a strong meaning.  So my goal was that the name was not on the top 100 most popular.  Dave wanted a great meaning as well, but wanted to avoid a name that was too unique.  I had been a little nervous that Dave would consider Eliana too unique. 

I prayed and told God that if Eliana was to be her name, the name would grow on Dave and if there was a different name to please change my heart.  I began to find some other names that I felt I could live with, when Dave told me Eliana was really growing on him.  We put it to prayer and from that day on, it was the only name that has felt appropriate for our miracle baby.

Norma -  Is Daves paternal grandmother who he absolutely adored.  She passed away when he was in his teens, but she has left such an imprint on his life.  As soon as we discovered this little life inside me was a girl, he was determined she would be named after his grandmother.  The name had to grow on me.  I considered add Rae to the middle name after my grandfather, who passed from this life the morning I first felt her move.  However Norma Rae sounds way too country for me!  : )

After sitting with the name and doing some research I found that Norma means “courage.”  I see her as courageous, I sense that will be one of her traits so the name began to fit.  I never met Daves grandmother, but every family member I meet speaks so highly of her.  She was obviously very influential in all of their lives.  I imagine that many of the qualities and characteristics that I love about my husband were imparted or molded by her.  I am sure if I had met her I would have adored her as well, and I know that I have her to thank in part for helping to shape such a wonderful husband for me…so Norma it is.

Stark – I discovered that Stark means “one with great strength.”  So appropriate for this little one.  From the beginning of my pregnancy as I prayed for her I knew she would be strong.  However, I do not feel like her strength means strong willed or rebellious.  I sense hers is a quiet, gentle strength.  A strength of character, a strength in confidence.  I feel she will have a sweet confidence, knowing who she is and whose she is…that confidence will give her a strength that will be unshakeable by peers or outside pressure. 

If you have any words or scriptures that you have for her we would love hear them!  Please email them to us or add as a comment to this post!

Any day now!

We are at 38 weeks....and now that it is safe for her to come, she has decided she likes her warm, cozy little womb.  Dave and I are very ready and excited to meet her.  


The other day I was cleaning my room and began to dust off my nightstand.  As I scanned over the books that sit there on the stand, I was overwhelmed by how amazing this year has been.  A year ago on my nightstand you would have found several books on how to deal with infertility.  Everything from dealing with grief to medical research.  Then a few months later the books changed to pregnancy books.  Now on my nightstand lay several books on babies and parenting.  What a difference a year makes.  What a story our nightstands tells!

Please agree with us in prayer

Dave and I spent today in the hospital.  I have been experiencing some contractions the past few days, but last night they were about 3 minutes apart.  Our doctor sent us into be checked and sure enough I was having consistent contractions.  It ends up that I have a bladder infection and that is probably what sent me into contractions.  The good news is I have not dialated yet, and baby and everything else look good.  
Right now I am back at home on rest for the next two days - hoping the bladder medicine helps clear things up.  We are at peace with everything, but our prayer is that she waits two more weeks: 1.  Because it is best for her little developing body.  2.  Because we don't want to be away from her when she is born and she her in the NIC unit for any amount of time.  : )
We have waited so long for her - we want to get to bond with her immediately and take her home with us.  So please agree with us that my body heals from this infection and holds off on anymore intense contractions!  Thanks


Dave and Jaylene

The Nuances of Pregnancy (Part 2)

Yes - I am discovering that there is even more that the books do not warn you about!  Like wedgies!  What are wedgies?  As a pregnant woman's body prepares for labor, her pelvis begins to stretch and her normal underwear no longer fits.  Lets just say, it is not fun to wake up every hour of the night to pick your undies out of your crack.  Then there is the pregnancy crawl.  As you get bigger, bending over is no fun.  So as you drop things, you stop to ponder.  "Is this going to pose potential harm to my pets?"  If not, you leave the item on the floor, until several items have fallen.  Then you revert to the crawl to pick everything up on floor level at one time.  So much easier on the knees and back then bending over 5 times a day.

Of course we cant end this post without another pee story.  The books should tell you to always wear a long sweater while pregnant in case you have the occasional leakage!  While shopping in Safeway the other day I experienced yet another awkward moment.  When I went into the store, I was fine. however seconds later I realized I had better leave the shopping cart and quickly find the restroom.  It came on so quick - no warning, and I didn't quite make it!  Thank goodness for long sweaters!  When I got home, I relayed the story to Dave and when I lifted my sweater he exclaimed: "What did you do that for?"  (Like I meant to do that)  yes I enjoy soiling myself in public places....not!  Anyways, my wise husband made a new rule......always go to the bathroom before you leave a place whether you feel like you have to go or not!  Good rule!  Should be in those pregnancy books!

Baby Stark - New picture

Baby at 27 weeks and 2 days!  She has her little hand in front of her cheek as if she is saying "no pictures please!"  Daddy and Mommy are so in love already!!  More great news.....Dave's brother and his wife are expecting as well!  How fun to have cousins so close in age... they are about 3 months behind us!

The Nuances of Pregnancy (What the books do not tell you!)

           I have been reading several books on pregnancy throughout the past few months, and I am discovering issues that none of the books will tell you!  First, they do not tell you to invest in more pillows!  I started with one.  Now, on certain nights I have 5-6 including a body pillow.  The books will not tell you to invest in a King size bed!  As you add more and more pillows, if you don’t have a king size bed – there in no longer room for your hubby!  The books do not tell you how quickly you will go through clothes.  I have several pairs of pants that fit me one week and by appearance should last another month or so.  However, when I have tried them on the following week they no longer fit!  It is shocking to me – how quickly your little baby bump can grow!

The last issue the books give a clue to…but don’t really indicate how embarrassing of a situation it can.  Urine leakage!  Yes the books do say to wear pads.  However, my stubborn nature has been determined to beat this issue of leakage.  (I know – after so many accidents – I should just give in.)  Overall I have been doing better with my control issues – so the other morning when I went for a walk I was quite confident no pad was needed.  The first part of the walk was successful, and when I felt a sneeze coming on – I stopped and prepared my body…..with no problems.  It was seconds later that another sneeze came on without warning….and there went the leakage.  Yes, it is uncomfortable to walk home with wet undies.  Yet, what is more awkward is having to walk by a group of construction workers with piddle marks!  I want to create a T-shirt that on the front says “Yes, I’m Pregnant…..”  and the back “and yes…that is piddle.”

Pictures finally here!

Click on picture to see a larger view!

Our kitty has decided the baby bump is a great pillow!!  It is now her favorite part to curl up against!