The story behind the name

Braelyn loves to give Layna hugs and kisses. She is doing a great job as a big sister.

Layna enjoying the car ride home.

Getting ready to leave the hospital and head home. Very cold and snowy outside.

I wasn't sure if I would ever be writing this blog.....about a name for our baby girl, a name that I liked and was excited about. But, Praise the Lord, God provided a name for her, in His perfect timing and we are so happy about it. I think finding a name for her was the hardest part of being pregnant.

So, before we had Braelyn I had decided that I would like for our children to have a "spiritual" name and a "family" name. When I started thinking and praying about a name for this baby girl, I kept thinking of the verse, Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven." I started looking up names that meant "light", but didn't really find anything I was excited about. Finally, one night I was thinking about the name Alayna, which I knew meant light, but I wasn't crazy about it. That night before we went to bed (Aaron was half asleep already)....I told him the name Layna Aleese, but we didn't talk about it. The next day I looked it up to see what it meant, I was just hoping that Layna would mean light since Alayna does. When I looked it up online, I couldn't believe it.....it means "light and truth"!!! I had also been looking at names that meant "truth", since I couldn't find any that meant light. I called Aaron who was working and told him how excited I was.

I love the name Layna because it is simple, but not common. I think it sounds sweet and beautiful and, of course, I love it's meaning. We pray that God will use Layna's life as a light for Him and that she would know the truth of God's word and share it with those around her.

After we decided the first name, I knew I wanted her middle name to be after my Mom, who is Mary Alice. I had a few different names I was considering, but finally decided on Aleese, which is similar to Alice. I chose this spelling because my middle name is Lee and Braelyn's middle name is Evangelee. So now, both my daughters have "lee" in their middle names too. I didn't plan on this, it just worked out that way.

And that is why we chose the name Layna Aleese Jones! I have some more cute pics of her smiling that I took the other day, just need to get them on the computer. She is sleeping and eating well. And she is starting to sleep a little longer at night. Thank you for all your prayers.