Abigail has been here 8 days now and to say we are smitten would be the understatement of our lives. She is pure sweetness. Remember a year ago when God gave me a word for the year – Rejoice – well He knew something I didn’t! It wasn’t until after we decided our baby girl would be named Abigail Grace that we realized her name meant: Father Rejoices or Father’s Joy. Our unexpected blessing has been the exclamation mark on my year of choosing to rejoice in everything.

She was set to arrive via scheduled C-section on December 12. Of all my concerns and anxieties during pregnancy, the fact that Abigail would come on her own early wasn’t even one of them. No wonder God tells me not to worry about anything! None of my worries came to fruition and God was totally with me in the actual hurdle we were facing.

Josh has been telling people that for as dramatic as I usually am in daily life, when serious situations hit, the Spirit takes over and I am as cool as a cucumber. Long story short, I went into labor Sunday night the 10th, insisted on driving myself to the hospital so that the kids didn’t have to wake up. They sent me home and told me to call my doc in the morning since I wasn’t dilated yet. By 5 am though, my contractions were 5 minutes apart. My doctor said to come into the hospital and they would get me into surgery as soon as an OR in labor and delivery opened up. Remember how cool, calm, and collected the normally crazy Maddi is during intense moments? None of the nurses thought I was actually progressing in labor because of how at peace I was. As Josh and Stephanie told me later, the most serious thing I said during my super painful back contractions was a calm, “Oh golly.”

When my water broke at 10:30 am everyone started taking things really seriously. I was dilated to a six and super UNINTERESTED in a VBAC with a 10 pound baby. They got me to the OR quickly and I was dilated to a 9 and feeling the urge to push. God had spoken Psalm 27 to my heart a few weeks earlier and I was reminded of it as I lay on the table. Peace ushered in with the sweet words of His faithful promises.

 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?

At 11:11 AM Abigail was born. One of our dear friends was in the OR as a nurse to help get her cleaned up. Josh held her and we wept the happiest tears in the world. Later the kids got to come meet her with Grandmas and Grandpa. My best friend Stephanie was there to capture the whole day on film and just thinking about how thankful I am for her makes me weep hormonal hot tears.

Now we are home and I am slowly recovering, the kids are slowly adjusting, Josh is literally holding us all up with his servant heart, and all the Grandmas and Grandpas are surrounding us in love and support. My mom just left after a week of taking care of all of us and she was such an amazing blessing! Josh’s parents have been in and out visiting and bringing meals and loving on us so well. Now my Dad and Stepmom are here for the week to visit and I’m guessing between loving on us and playing endlessly with the big kids, they will go home really tired! Friends have loved us like Jesus, filling our fridge and bellies. We are worn out but our hearts feel like they are overflowing.

Abigail is the sweetest. She nurses like a champ around the clock. She has the perfect chubby cheeks. And her demeanor is so sweet. She doesn’t just want snuggled, she wants snuggled tight and close. I’m obsessed with smelling her breath and kissing her fat cheeks. Her fingers wrapped around mine slay me. And she has all of her Daddy’s heart. Brother and Sisters are enamored and fight over her most of the afternoon and well past bedtime.

Thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for the calls, prayers, texts, visits, groceries, gifts and love. We are so grateful. And thanks for reading about our newest love, Abigail!