NRL star Benji Marshall and wife Zoe have officially welcomed their second child together – a beautiful baby girl.
Clearly overjoyed by their new arrival, the couple announced the news as well as their stunning choice in moniker, Ever, via Instagram on Wednesday evening.
“No words. Just her. Ever J Marshall born 15:15pm on the 15th June. Truly, Madly, deeply in love,” Zoe wrote alongside a touching photo album showcasing her daughter’s arrival.
In the powerful black-and-white photo album, Zoe can be seen moments after birth holding her baby girl on her chest as her proud husband watches on.
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In another image, newly-minted big brother Fox is introduced to his baby sister.
Meanwhile Benji penned his own touching tribute to his wife and new daughter.
“Ever J Marshall Welcome to the world baby girl. Mum, Fox and I love you and can’t wait to give you the world . I am already wrapped around your little finger. You are my everything,” the South Sydney Rabbitohs player mused.
“Your mum @zoebmarshall is amazing. Actually She is the greatest. The way in which she brought you into this world without any self worry and sooooo unselfishly giving is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. (She was a Queen in childbirth) Your big brother Fox already loves you so much and is ready to look after you forever. You complete us baby ❤️ #daddysgirl,” he concluded.
The power couple first announced they were expecting baby number two around Christmas last year by sharing a picture of Zoe’s ultrasound accompanied by sound bites from her podcast The Deep.
In the caption for the announcement Zoe revealed she’d been struggling not only with keeping the secret but with nausea and isolation.
“It’s really bloody hard for me to keep a secret. That’s why I’ve hardly been on Instagram or sharing stories because I don’t trust myself that it would just slip out.”
She continued: “It’s time. I’ve been incredibly sick and isolated for the last 11 weeks because of this little monkey. I’m sharing this and so much vital information I learnt from this season on today’s [podcast] episode.
“I look forward to being honest and sharing the good, bad and really ugly bits of this time with you all. Mini marshall due day before my birthday (god help me another Gemini) June 2021.”
In her post, Zoe also shared a snippet from her podcast, The Deep, where she spoke about how cautious she and Benji had been around the second pregnancy given the complications they’ve had in the past.
In the recording, she explained that Benji had a lot of anxiety around her announcing they were expecting too early in the pregnancy, after losing a baby in 2019.
“He’s had a lot of anxiety around me sharing prematurely, which I completely understand,” Zoe said.
“We had a loss around this time last year. I think the impact of that on me really rattled him. He’s private in general but didn’t want me to share,” she said.
Ever joins older brother Fox, three.
Back in 2017, the pair spoke to Woman’s Day about their difficult road to parenthood.
After suffering severe stage-four endometriosis, Zoe was convinced this was the reason for their struggle to fall pregnant.
Zoe’s journey to fall pregnant the first time wasn’t easy.
(Instagram)She admitted in her darkest moments, she feared she would never have a child.
“We always knew we wanted a baby, so living with that uncertainty was tough. It was always in the back of my mind,” she told Woman’s Day in 2017.
Soon after Zoe and Benji welcomed “miracle” baby boy, Fox.
A huge congrats to the family on their beautiful baby girl.
