Singer Monica gives birth to a baby girl

Singer Monica has become a mom for the third time.

The Angel of Mine hitmaker welcomed daughter Laiyah with her NBA player husband Shannon Brown on Tuesday (03Sep13), and Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa revealed her friends' happy news in an Instagram.com post on Thursday (05Sep13).

She wrote, "I am so honored to announce that baby Laiyah Brown has arrived! Mommy and baby are healthy and well. Congratulations @shannonbrown26 and @monicamylife! We love you guys and we can't wait to meet Laiyah! 6lbs (pounds) 9/3/13."

The proud dad gave fans a sneak peek at the newborn later on Thursday, when Brown shared an Instagram photo of himself holding the baby in his arms.

In the accompanying caption, he writes, "I THANK GOD for her!!! JOY has been restored in my LIFE!!!"

This is the first child for the couple, which married in 2011. Monica also has two sons, Rodney and Romelo, with rapper Rocko, while Brown is father to Shanonn Christopher, his child from a previous relationship.