So, I didn't get around to blogging yesterday, because what I've anticipated excitedly posted about twice has finally come to fruition.
I now have a son.
I'll let my wife be the dispenser of the birth-story details, but Mattias David Gilliland was born on Sept. 28, 2012 at 6:14pm, 8lbs and 2oz. I'm very happy to have a son along with my two daughters. Someone to play sports and videogames and watch action movies with. A cute little Vikings/Bulls/White-Sox/Hawkeyes/Blackhawks fan. Among other things.
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a bit meticulous when it comes to naming my children, and all my children's names are carefully based on deeply biblical names and concepts. This speaks more to the idea that I'm an obsessively creative person (read: eccentric theological nerd) when it comes to naming my children, rather than the impression that I am "holier-than-thou" to anyone who approaches naming their children differently.
"Mattias" (pronounced MUH-TIE-ISS) is a variation (and the Swedish spelling, acknowledging my Swedish heritage) of "Matthias," which shares etymological history with the more common name "Matthew." Matthias was the disciple appointed, through a very prayerful and thorough process, to replace Judas Iscariot in the first chapter of Acts. The name also shares original meaning with "Matthew": gift of God. We do feel our Mattias is a gift of God, as we had prayed for a healthy son to be close in age and in relationship to our daughters. And, like the biblical Matthias, he's a representation of God-given hope for the future. We're still working with nickname possibilities (e.g. Matt, Matty, Ty, Tias, etc.).
"David" is a name that's been waiting to leap onto the birth certificate of my son since my college years. I was going through a bit of a rough patch (mild depression, spiritual warfare) and I felt compelled to read through the story of David. All of it, from 1 Samuel 15 to the beginning of 1 Chronicles. David (also being an ancestor of Christ) was a flawed man who didn't pull punches during his prayers, but he was the passionate, devoted, skillful, versatile, diligent, musical and worshipful warrior poet after God's own heart who I strive to imitate (secondarily to Christ). However, "David" will be the middle name of my son because, as I said, there are far too many David's in the family, including my brother. It's also to pay respects to him and all the Davids in our families.
So, yes, I'm a happy daddy once again.
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