Annika Ruth - our new baby girl!

So we have had a busy and productive week this past week...  Tuesday, October 25, 2011 is a day that we will never forget, a day that we have been patiently waiting for and, at times, hoping would arrive sooner.  On Tuesday, October 25 at 9:22 am our daughter, Annika Ruth Richard, arrived via C-section.  She weighed in at a chubby 8 pounds 9 ounces and measured a healthy 20 inches long.  She is gorgeous!!  (Of course, I am completely biased.)

Annika Ruth when she is minutes old...

Many people have wondered why we named her Annika Ruth.  Middle name first... Ruth is my middle name, and a family name on my side.  Ruth was a grandmother somewhere in my dad's lineage, and honestly, I don't know much about her, but I intend to find out more so that I can pass it on to my daughter in the future.  I also love the Ruth of biblical fame.  She was really a standout woman - loyal, hardworking, faithful, and full of honor.  Her faithfulness is apparent after Ruth's husband dies and her mother-in-law, Naomi, is going back to Israel and Naomi tells her to go back to her parents and stay in Moab.  Ruth tells Naomi, "Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."  Faithful and loyal for sure!  I hope and pray that Annika can be an amazing woman like Ruth someday!  First name... Truth is Annika was just a name we liked, but it stuck because it is a variant of Anna, which means grace, favor.  Between our tough delivery of Isaiah and the miscarriage we had between Isaiah and Annika (both topics for other blogs), I felt that her name was so fitting.  God has shown us great grace and favor in this healthy full term baby girl.  She's so amazing, and God is so amazing to bless us with her.  She's a week old, this past Tuesday, and she is a wonderful baby, so far.  She eats well, sleeps well, and seems to have a laid back disposition.  Of course, we are only a week in, so we will see how much of that is simply the sleepy newborn phase.  I can't wait to see the beautiful woman that Annika Ruth will become!

Annika and mommy in the hospital

So here we are, John and I are parents of two kids!  Yikes!  If you know us, you also know that John says that he wants nine (yes, nine) kids.  As for me, four is a nice number, but I will take what the Lord gives us.  I have always wanted to be a wife and mommy, so I am so incredibly blessed to be at this point in my life, right now.  It's all God's mercy and grace that we are where we are, and I fully recognize that.  John and I are two messed up people who God rescued from destructive paths and set on a path together with Him and He has blessed us immensely.  I know to everything there is a season, and my heart is so overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for the season that we are in now.  I tried to communicate to John just how thankful I am, but I think that only God knows exactly how I feel.  And that's just fine with me!  

My two precious babies!

Isaiah and Annika will provide many more adventures in the future and fodder for many more blogs I'm sure - so stay tuned!