Introducing...Jonas Paul Jensen!

The name game is over and the name that has emerged victorious is the only one that we had not thought of prior to going to the hospital. We were somewhat caught off guard since Alice was scheduled for a c-section next Monday and even that was a week early, so we thought we had more time on the name. Well, he came early and has been Moby ever since. Ironically, the whole Moby joke is what got us thinking of Jonas because, in keeping with the whale theme, we had some friends mention "how about Jonah?" We actually liked it, and then when considering Jonas it just seemed right. After researching the name and discovering it's meaning is similar to Jonah (dove; gift from god) it also means the doer of God's will and accomplishing. We really liked that and Jonas officially made our list of several names. After narrowing it down to two similar names (not Jonah and Jonas), we sat on it and ended up feeling like Jonas should be it. It really felt like it was right for him and not so much just to please us, the parents. We both really liked the other name, and it was hard to let go of, but only because WE liked it and WE wanted it whereas we feel naming a child should be about doing what is right for them. Of course we know very little about new children, so we prayed a lot that the Lord would help us out because He, of course, knows all about that child--what he will accomplish in life, what talents he brought with him, his personality traits--and so we look at the naming of children as more discernment than choice, trying to discern what name the Lord feels is most appropriate for him rather than simply choose what sounds best. That said, however, it will still at least be a name the parents like because, well, if you don't like it then it won't make the initial list in the first place! So grab some names you like and then begin discerning! Anyways, what was the other name we wanted, you may be wondering. I'll tell you, but only over a steak dinner as payment for that information. I'll give you a hint, we could use the same nicknames with both (J.J. and Joey) which is why it was easy to switch from the first to Jonas. And as for the middle name, Paul, that is Alice's dad and likewise her brother's name and we've known pretty much for a long time that Paul would be the middle name.