Introducing the newest member of our family!

Bode McEwen Ricks

Born April 13 at 1:03 pm at 36 weeks and 6 days! Weight: 7 lbs, 12 oz. Height: 19 inches.

We are so happy this little guy is here! He is doing awesome and is so strong! I was thinking we might have another baby in the NICU, but not so! He came out breathing just fine on his own and took to nursing like a pro! We think he is so handsome and are so proud of him :)

We decided to name him Bode (pronounced bo-dee) basically because we both just really like it. I love "Bo" too and liked that it would work as a nickname. McEwen is Sean's middle name (and his mother's maiden name) and I have always loved it. We thought it sounded good with Bode, so it stuck. :)

Here's the short and sweet labor story if you are interested-- Last Monday I went back to the hospital and got my routine blood testing done. My blood platelets came back low again and they were getting low enough that if they went down much more I would not be able to have an epidural. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and we discussed options. I was originally scheduled to be induced tomorrow (the 19th) but the doctor was nervous that my platelets would go down again and I could get sick. I was not crazy about the idea of not getting an epidural. After much discussion, we decided it would be best to induce me the following day. I was just shy of 37 weeks. Both Sean and I felt at peace with the decision and it was nice to finally have some sort of plan!

Final belly shot in the hospital before being induced:

The labor was honestly a dream come true. I was given the pitocin a little after 8 am and Bode was born at 1:03 pm. I got the epidural around 10:00 and was dilated to a 4. By 12:30 pm I was at a 10. I could have delivered then, but they actually told me not to push and to try and hold off because I was supposed to have the antibiotic they had given me in my system for four hours. At 1 pm I started pushing and Bode was here 3 minutes later. Pretty much the easiest thing ever. I almost started laughing because I just couldn't believe it could be that easy!

Just after Bode was born:

Back in the mother/baby room:

So far Jackson has been a great big brother. No poking eyes out or major tantrums... yet! ;) He is protective of "baby Bode" and gives him lots of love.

Ready to go home!

A few pics with his eyes open!

He has two dimples just like Jackson:

We feel so blessed he is here safe and sound and that he is doing so well! We're having a great time cuddling him and kissing his chubby cheeks. I forgot how much I love newborns. I love the way they smell and how soft they are. I love the little sounds they make and their total dependence on you.

The hospital offered a photographer to take pictures of Bode while we were there. I wasn't expecting much, but when I saw the pictures they took, I ended up buying the cd because there were a few shots I ended up loving. I didn't really have professional pictures taken of Jackson until he was 7 or 8 weeks old, which is what I plan to do with Bode, but I thought it would be fun to have some really newborn ones. Here are my favorites of the ones they took:

B&W version

Welcome to our family, kiddo! :)