Introducing...

Anna Rose

Our little blessing was born last Monday, September 3 at 1:35 pm - Labor Day! - after an uncomplicated & natural labor.  She weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounces, and measured 20 inches long.  Although I'm very proud of myself for accomplishing the natural birth, I was more amazed by God's creation of the human body and its natural process, not to mention the miracle of her tiny body.  Justin and I were in awe throughout the delivery, and continue to be amazed whenever we look at her sweet face!

Anna is an incredibly sweet, calm baby.  I keep joking that I'm not sure how two type-A people managed to produce a type-B one.  She thankfully soothes easily, and takes a long time to escalate when there's something that she needs.  She does more squeaking than crying - sometimes to tell us she wants something, other times involuntarily (like now, while she's sleeping).  I've taken to calling her Little Squeaks; Justin's favorite nickname is Anna Rosebud (since she's tiny).  

As for me, I feel fantastic.  While I was pregnant, I thought that I felt pretty good - because each pound and symptom came on slowly over the course of 9 months.  Marginally, each day I didn't feel that much worse.  The past week's changes have been much quicker, and therefore demonstrate just how big of a difference there was!  Thankfully, I've had a great recovery thus far, and even the postpartum discomforts do not overshadow how great it feels to be without 25 extra pounds.  Don't worry, I still have plenty to loose (remember how big I was?), but I've been impressed how much of it was water weight that came off nearly instantaneously. 

Granted, not everything is roses and butterflies.  I certainly have my new mom moments, but I do have to admit that there have been far fewer than I ever anticipated.  We are thankful for all of the prayers that were offered for our family throughout the pregnancy and delivery - we have felt a tangible presence of God's graces as a result.  The last week has been the most incredible week of our lives.  We're so excited for all that is to come with our sweet baby girl.