Tuesday, June 24, 2014

May I introduce my Precious Gem?




Friends, this is 
~Emerald Peace~

Born Tuesday evening June 17th
at 7:58pm
Weighing 8 pounds
19 and 3/4" long

Emerald is our delight, 
and my heart aches with the joy of being stretched larger still!
************

As the time of her estimated arrival drew near and the anticipation of labor
put a foreboding taste in my mouth, I found myself clinging to this verse

Zephaniah 3: 17
"The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, 
he will rejoice over you with joy; 
he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

My labor started in the late afternoon, slow and with no pattern.
At 5-ish on that cool and very rainy evening we packed the kids off to Auntie Hannah 
(who gave them a slumber party to remember for years to come!)
and the house became still and quiet.
Through contractions I stirred with the final details for a cozy birthing. 
Midwives were on their way, house tidy, two baby bundles with bows (one for girl, one for boy)
sat carefully arranged on top of extra towels and blankets.
Standing back in the softly lit  living room with candle flickering in the corner
I surveyed the arrangement and felt ready.

The atmosphere was peaceful, my beloved opted to let the midwives deliver this baby
and so was right beside me, a comfort and presence.
I had intended to meditate on the larger part of Zephaniah 3:10, 
knowing that the Lord God, He rejoices over me!
He sings for me.
He quiets me.
Instead, with each labor pain I breathed only "...He will quiet you with his love..."
and knew it true.

With long restful breaks between contractions it wasn't long before she came.
Gently she came
and the peaceful calm was broken by a tiny but rather indignant squall.

She was born in the caul; "that means good luck" they told us.

I don't know about luck, 
but our home has a brand new blessing in the addition of sweet Emerald Peace.  
I'm certain we are the privileged to know her and to be the ones
holding and loving her.


{About 3 hours old}
{A little sister for Aloria}




{5 days old}

29 comments:

Laura said...

Congratulations!!!! What a wonderful gift from our Lord!!! Emerald Peace is a precious addition to your sweet family.
Hugs~
Laura

Alyssa (CBL) said...

Analene, Emerald is beautiful. Praise God for a healthy precious baby girl. The name is lovely as well. Many prayers of thanks for another baby and now prayer for rest and strength. Carrie

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Her hair, her name, your family. Everything! Congratulations! Your family is an inspiration!

Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful!! Congratulations!!

Gramsie said...

My eyes brim...heart overflows! Can't wait to meet her in person! Gz

Anonymous said...

OH HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS! SO THANKFUL SHE IS HERE AND YOU ALL ARE DOING GOOD! HER HAIR IS UNREAL~SHE LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE ANGEL!TAKE IT EASY AND DONT OVERDUE THINGS!

Too Many Kids In The Bathtub said...

YAYYY YAYYYY YAAYYYY! Congratulations! She is so beautiful! We are rejoicing with you in the birth of a new beautiful baby girl! :)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful baby girl!!! You are so blessed. Thank you for sharing her story.

Brenda said...

What a beautiful blessing. I so happy for you and your precious family.

Melissa said...

Warmest congratulations! She's absolutely precious!

1HappyWife said...

She is absolutely precious!!What a sweet peaceful look she has in all the pictures. As I read, "he will quiet you with his love..." I thought that is such a beautiful thought and then as I read on to find that those are the words you mediated on ... so neat :). Oh, reading this and seeing your precious gift makes me sooooo excited to meet our little one :).
Congratulations to ALL of you!!! Enjoy every moment of these sweet, fleeting new born days.

Renata said...

Congratulations! She is beautiful! Thanks for sharing your birth story. What a beautiful blessing she is!
Enjoy this precious newborn time.
Blessings
Renata:)

Marie said...

Awwww... Congratulations to your family!!! Your new little "gem" is beautiful :)

Christabelle said...

Congrats! Oh, I'm so happy for you!

Kathy said...

Congratulations. She is beautiful!!

1HappyWife said...

A group of children huddled around the computer admiring Emerald :)!!!

Mommy Reg said...

So spectacularly awesome! Congratulations friend. :)She is gorgeous.

Emily, wife of Jeremy said...

She's beautiful. Congratulations! Praise the Lord.

Shauna said...

Analene loves green!
Love her 'Lene, she's beautiful and so is her name. Can't wait to meet her!

Hopes Handcrafts said...

oh what a precious addition to your family. Such a beautiful name..may the Lord bless her (and you) with much peace. Many blessings!

Unknown said...

She, of course, is precious! Congratulations!

PUPPPsMom said...

Such a wonderful birth story. Thankful to the Lord for hearing our prayers and answering so abundantly. Can't wait to meet the little Emerald gem!!

Xenia Kathryn said...

So very, very happy for you and the family, Analene! She is a beauty, just like her mama! I'm trying not to be jealous of your Emerald! :D hehehe.

Jen said...

She is perfect in every way. Congratulations!!

Grace Cartwright Aspinwall said...

what a doll! and that hair! congratulations! :) she is your little twin!

outdoor.mom said...

oh congratulations!! your baby is so beautiful!! I would love to have another one :-) I am so happy for you!!

Kimberly Bryant said...

What an absolute precious baby girl! Love the name! She's beautiful! Enjoy that blessing! Love, Kimberly

momofbugs said...

Congrats! She is beautiful!

Laura said...

Congratulations on a beautiful baby! I love her name! Your story made me wish for a home birth. If only my births weren't so complicated...