Welcoming Mazy Grace Into This World!

Mazy Grace.

God’s most amazing designs and workings in life are not able to be described in words. God’s most miraculous events, leave us lifting up our hands saying “only God.” In trying to find words to say to describe what holding our first child has meant, all that comes out are tears. God’s grace has overwhelmed us and captured us. And His grace has given us new life, in more ways than one.

As the sun started to make it’s way to our side of the world, we looked in awe at the vast spectrum of colors and stared in wonder, thinking about that Tuesday morning, what that day would hold, as we drove to the hospital.

As we arrived at the hospital, we both kept replaying in our heads that TODAY was going to be the day we were going to meet our little girl. Our little Mazy Grace. So surreal yet so real as we knew that all of the steps we had to take that day, would lead us to the moment we could hold our baby girl for the first time.

As we made ourselves at home, nerves set in a tad, but our anticipation and excitement for this day overrode any fear.

One last “belly pose” before she would make her debut.

As I “held” her in my arms, wrapping my hands around my stomach and feeling her kick, dreams of her in my arms, all too real. It was hard to believe that this day had arrived!

Trying to get her to get a movin’ by making laps around the floor. Yes, I am sporting Dan’s slippers because my feet were so swelled that mine no longer fit. What a husband!

Shortly after the walk, I received an epidural, which was one of the best decisions and recommendations my doctor made! Wow, does that make a difference! I would love to say that I was a champ and didn’t need one, but I hit a point where they started to become stronger and I could feel my body and heart responding, so I said lets do it! I ended up sleeping quite a bit with it, which was good because I didn’t get a good night’s sleep the night before.Enjoying my liquid diet! Basically up until 1 hour before I started to push, I felt so great! The last hour was a bit rough, but worth every second! And before I knew it, I was telling the nurse that it was time to push! She checked me and I was dilated to a 10! The doctor came in and it was go time!

(I plan on sharing the delivery part of the story in a future post, but thought I would share these pictures first, as this post would be a book if I didn’t!)

And the moment that changed our lives forever!

Mazy Grace Sterk

Born: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 6:52pm

Weight: 8 lbs. 2 ounces

Length: 22 inches

Holding my baby girl for the first time.

This picture brings so many emotions (as does the one above). Years of dreaming of a baby being placed on my chest. Years of prayers being sent up, praying for this child. Months of praying for a healthy child. She has been worth the wait!

Making sure she has 10 fingers and 10 toes

She did not weigh near what we all thought she would, but for that we were thankful! Delivery went smooth because of it!

She sure has some large dutch feet!

Proud dad!

As a wife, I never knew the joy it would bring to my heart to see Dan as a dad. He is absolutely incredible. To see the love he has and the protective hands and heart he has for our daughter, brings tears to my eyes! Just makes me love him that much more!

Content as can be in daddy’s arms!

First family photo with our bundle of joy!

Look at Mazy just stare into her father’s eyes!

Snuggles and kisses that never get old!

Some long days apparently!

And this is only just the beginning! We have said countless times that we never knew we could love someone so much the way we now love Mazy! Tears continue to fall as we just stare into her face, telling her how much we love her. We are still so overwhelmed with this gift and can’t imagine life without her!

I want to share more about the delivery itself, as that is a God-story in and of itself. We look back on that day with SUCH beautiful memories as it was one of the best days of our lives!

Thank you to everyone who has said a prayer or said a word of encouragement through this whole process! We have felt so loved and we hope one day Mazy realizes the depth of love people have for her. As we look at her face, we know that we hold her not because of anything we have done, but purely by GOD’S GRACE. We do not deserve her and we know that each day with her is a gift we never expected unwrapping. So thank you for sharing in this moment in our lives and we ask that you join us in praising God for this beautiful life!

Amazing Grace!