surprise baby girl

She was born July 17, 2010. A serene, very quick, and peaceful birth. She is perfect in every way. Baby Girl Branagan was a surprise in all ways she arrived. Born early, or should I say in God's perfect timing? (I always go to 42 weeks), fast, painless, in the water, very tiny, and a girl (we were so sure she was a boy)! 

We literally went through over 100 names that we had tossed around throughout the pregnancy and the ones we procured after she was born. All of them unique, many Casper called "not names", but none that we could both see calling our baby girl. Finally, Chapel was inspired by a name Casper came up with. He said, Raleigh - which we both liked (living in NC was a great time in our lives). I thought for a second, "Well, Chapel makes more sense, we lived there." (Chapel Hill) We knew her middle name as soon as we knew she was a girl. My grandmother, Dorothy Jean, was an amazing woman, and I only wish she was here to meet her great grand daughter.
July will forever be an emotionally charged month for our family.