Despite the drama surrounding her ongoing divorce from Ed Hartwell, expectant actress Keshia Knight Pulliam is finding grace through her pregnancy. On Friday, Aug. 19, during an episode of her Play.it podcast “Kandidly Keshia,” the “Cosby” alum revealed her growing baby girl’s name. “I was back and forth on if I wanted to share this or not, but I decided that I would because it is so hard for me to keep it in,” Keshia teased. “I’m so excited about her. Her name is … Ella Grace.”
The 37-year-old went on to explain that while she had already picked out her daughter’s first name, her middle name was inspired by recent marital woes.
“I knew Ella was going to be my first baby girl’s first name. Then in the midst of all of this is when she’s earned her middle name, Grace,” she said. “When I tell you through all of this the grace of God has so been with us and has covered us and protected us — she’s been my saving grace to get through it. It’s knowing that it’s not about me. Knowing that on days when I want to curl up in the bed, pull the covers over my head and cry until my eyes fall out, that is not an option because she feels everything I feel and right now, it is bigger than me — it’s about her. It is about her being OK.”
News broke of Hartwell’s divorce filing in late July, just days after Pulliam announced she was pregnant with the pair’s first child. The former NFL star also requested his estranged wife take a paternity test, hinting at infidelity on her part. However, Pulliam later claimed in an interview to “Entertainment Tonight” that she and Hartwell had almost broken up last fall, due to his cheating ways.
In spite of it all, Pulliam revealed she’s thrilled to become a mom. “I am just so excited to meet her because she has some amazing things to do in this world. I can’t wait to just support her along her journey of becoming all that she is destined to be,” she said. “I know she’s going to be an amazing woman. She comes from a long lineage of strong, just wonderful women and I can’t wait to see all that she is going to accomplish and add to the legacy.”