God has been exceedingly gracious to us! I keep saying to Scott and Cole I believe I am the happiest woman alive! I am so grateful to God!! Our new daughter, Annika Faith, arrived safely at 8:34pm on June 22, 2012 weighing 7lbs. 2 oz. and measuring 20" long.
Annika means God's grace and favor.
Her scriptural blessing given to her by her father, Scott and me is Ephesians 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - Not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
This first picture shows our last minute preparations the day before baby's arrival - Leah and Mommy watered the roses in the backyard on June 21,2012.
Active Labor began about 5:30pm and by 7:30pm I was in so much pain that Scott said he heard me saying under my breath, "I should've had an epidural." And I remember asking God to forgive me and Adam and Eve for our sins and to please not make me have to push because I just can't".
At 8:30 I was complete (ten centimeters) and at 8:34 I sat down on the bed (had been standing during most of labor to utilize gravity) I gave one big push and the baby came forth. I had to tell the midwife to please come and help because the baby was coming forth out onto the bed. Apparently, this kind of thing is far more common for woman who have had a number of previous full-term deliveries (this was my fifth).
This picture was taken immediately post-delivery of baby - Still recovering from pain....
OK - So all the pain was worth it!! What a miracle!
She finished eating, was cleaned up and placed under the warmer. Scott and I are in awe of God's workmanship!
Baby Annika meets her siblings (Cole was our first visitor)
Maya, Leah, Nanna and Pop were close behind
Morning after delivery - Annika is wide awake and ready to go!
Leah has clocked more time holding Annika than anyone else, including me (Mom). All day long we hear "Hold It, Baby"! Then, when she has the baby in her arms she will sit for as long as a hour (possibly more on occasion) and gently love on her new baby sister and while making it clear that she does not want anyone to take her baby from her.
Precious Annika and her adoring Daddy!
Oh so happy for you all. I miscarried one child and one arrived barely alive and has cerebral palsy and the three others arrived fine. Such a journey and the wonderful joy of the baby being "wide awake and ready to go". I have read about your own journey too and so happy for the blessing of Annika. Lovely pictures.
Posted by: Christine | June 27, 2012 at 09:23 AM
"Hold it, Baby!" I love it. The pictures are gorgeous. You are blessed indeed!
Posted by: Megan | June 27, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Blackburnmanor | June 27, 2012 at 02:51 PM
AWESOME pictures.........brought to you by:
..............AN AWESOME GOD!...............
Yup, you look like the happiest woman in the whole wide world, and you should.
Congratulations to you, Scott, Cole, Maya, Leah, Nana & Pop!
WELCOME Miss Annika Faith Hasenbalg. You are indeed a beautiful reminder of our Lord's Favor and His Grace.
Love from NC.
Posted by: cindim | June 27, 2012 at 04:06 PM
Congratulations! She is beautiful!!
Posted by: Sarah | June 27, 2012 at 10:26 PM
How wonderful! Praise God and Congratulations! Love the pictures and thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Christine | June 27, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Gorgeous, Kerry!! SOO sweet! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Lyndsey | June 28, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Congratulations! Every child is truly a gift from the Lord! So glad your kids are enjoying this new little bundle of joy! Love her name by the way!
Candice
Posted by: Candice Sneed | June 30, 2012 at 07:39 PM
Congratulations! So glad to hear the baby is here safely!
Posted by: Hannah | July 01, 2012 at 06:45 AM
Nie tak dawno zidentyfikowane o swoim miejscu i nadal są już czytać dalej. Sądziłem, będę mógł odejść My 1st komentarz. i nie sprawdzić, co mówią chyba, że już cieszył się czytanie. Ładny blog. źle być bookmarking regularnego odwiedzania tej strony internetowej bardzo typowo.
Posted by: tee shirt dc | July 14, 2012 at 12:21 AM
Kerry, I miss you guys like you have no idea!!! I cannot wait to meet Annika and see all your beautiful faces. These pics are simply gorgeous- so grateful to the Lord for beautiful Annika Faith; and what a gorgeous name! You just keep getting more beautiful, and you looked like a model the day before Annika arrived! Love you and can't wait to see you soon.
Posted by: Anna | July 19, 2012 at 01:12 PM
Tú eres la mujer más feliz del mundo, ¡felicidades! Espero que a menudo puede ver blog muy bueno, muchas gracias!
Posted by: vente de maillot de bain | July 23, 2012 at 04:51 AM
Kerry! This is Kelly Bennett from Bucknell! Can you email me? I can't figure out how else to contact you but through your comments! Looking forward to hearing from you!
Posted by: Kelly | July 26, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Til hamingju með að pósta svona gagnlegt blogg. Bloggið þitt er ekki aðeins upplýsandi, en einnig mjög listrænt líka. Það yfirleitt eru mjög par af einstaklingum sem að geta skrifa ekki svo auðvelt greinar sem skapandi. Halda upp á gott að skrifa! Hey there! Ég er í vinnunni brimbrettabrun um bloggið þitt frá nýja iphone minn! Bara langaði að segja að ég elska að lesa í gegnum bloggið þitt og hlakka til að öll innlegg þín! Halda upp á frábær vinna!
Posted by: maillot de foot france | August 03, 2012 at 03:52 AM
I am so behind, I didn't even know you were having a new baby. Congratulations and Praise God for his beautiful blessings! God is so good.
Posted by: JulieinCA | September 03, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Ég held að viðhorf þitt er djúpt, bara vel hugsað þess út og í raun frábært að sjá einhvern sem veit hvernig á að setja þessar hugsanir niður svo vel. Great starf á þessu
bloggið þitt er mjög good.It var mjög vel skrifað og auðvelt að skilja. Ólíkt fleiri blogg sem ég hef lesið sem eru í raun ekki gott. Ég fann líka innlegg þitt mjög áhugavert
Posted by: cheap air max | September 11, 2012 at 03:17 AM