Kennedy Eva Thatcher

Ms. Kennedy Eva Thatcher finally arrived on Friday morning at 9:58am weighing a whopping nine pounds three ounces (I know I pushed her out) and measuring a shrimpy 19 and 3/4 inches (compared with big sis who was almost two inches longer). She has black hair and blue eyes and lovely olive skin at least for now. Yes, she has not left my side yet so I know that she is mine and was not accidentally swapped at birth. I just hope her striking coloring sticks.

The Story:

Since Kennedy's due date was past and the ultrasound indicated that she was probably between nine and ten pounds, on top of the fact that I had been dilated to over a six for two weeks, the doctor did not want to wait any longer for her to be born of her own volition. We tried everything, including a brisk four mile walk on Christmas, to get her to come on her own. Ultimately, this girl didn't budge.

On Friday morning the doctor brought me in to break my water. He broke my water at 8am and my mom, Dave and I waited for the contractions to start. The doctor and nurse left the room and the nurse agreed to come back after she had finished her paperwork and the doctor after a couple of hours, unless summoned. Around 8:50am my contractions started in earnest. It was actually really scary. They were so powerful and coming so quickly that it took Dave and me a minute to wrap our minds around the fact that she was coming and coming soon. I couldn't remember even how to breathe period, much less any of the breathing techniques we had practiced. Dave pulled out his iPhone to look up some of the techniques and my mom, who was cool as a cucumber from the start, really helped focus Dave and me. I had decided not to do the epidural again, but honestly, I had doubts about whether I could make it because the contractions were so brutal. I couldn't gauge how bad they were in comparison to the final stages with Claire and had no idea how long I would have to endure. The doctor was at his office and the nurse was gone baby gone and when I started feeling a lot of lower back pressure about 45 minutes later, Dave went and got the nurse to check me.

The nurse came in pretty laxidasically to check me. She checked me and Ms. Kennedy was already starting to crown. She told me not to push and rushed to get the doctor who was there in a few minutes. He arrived and I started pushing. After four pushes my slippery little baby was in my arms. She was perfect from the start. So peaceful, so lovable, so mine.

The hospital, unlike in NY, where they swept Claire away almost instantaneously, left her with me in the room the entire time. They don't even have a nursery, so we were side by side until I left the hospital yesterday afternoon. Since we arrived home she has thrived even more than at the hospital. She came home to a full house of greeters. My grandma, mom, three of my brothers, three nieces, one sister-in-law, four dogs and even and ex-sister in law were all here to welcome her to the world. It was wonderful to have them here for the birth and for Kennedy to get to meet so many people who love her so soon.

The Name:

As some of you may know Dave and I have been debating on a name for months. Since we really nailed it with Claire so we felt a lot of pressure. Nothing really sat right with us and when we arrived at the hospital we still had a "stupor of thought". Our nurse, Kita, who was with us all day turned out to be this really incredible lady and suggested her daughter's name, Kennedy. Despite asking around for months, scouring baby books, facebook friends of friends lists, credit lists from the movies, and yes even our very own phone directories, the name Kennedy never even crossed our minds. We both liked it instantly and put it on our name list but didn't think much more about it than that.

The next day the deliberations continued, under pressure by the hospital staff to complete the birth certificate paperwork before we could be checked out. On a side note, I do not recommend this naming approach to anyone. Dave admitted during our discussions that on the way to the hospital that morning he felt pretty strongly that her name should be Kennedy. I was less convinced but we decided to pray about the name Kennedy and one other name (that I will keep in my heart for the next baby). I felt really clearly immediately after the prayer that her name was indeed Kennedy.

We also love that Kennedy and Thatcher both are names of very influential leaders and think the trait of leadership may just swim in her veins.

Eva was easier. We were introduced to this name a few months ago when our niece Brooklyn was born. Eva is Brooklyn's middle name and Dave's great grandmother's name, Agatha Eva Katharine Reeder. Melissa, Brooklyn's mom, wrote a great tribute to her on her blog and without permission (sorry Melissa, don't ask, repent later has always been my motto) I will share it here:

"Eva was an extraordinary woman, but one virtue in particular that she magnified is the reason we wanted our daughter to carry her name. It is a story of the value of attitude. Grandma Eva raised her family during the depression, when even the sturdiest of supplies was waning. However, Grandpa Lynn (Dave's grandfather) recalled that the only thing that stood as a reminder to him that things were hard was that his overalls had patches on them. Although they were a full house on a less than meager income, their home was full of laughter and light - and in his memory things were never that bad. Grandpa Lynn eventually married a woman who came from a very high social class and a lot of money. Her description of the same years were grey and dismal. She, like the majority of the population who lived through it, described them of some of the hardest times in her life. The lack of what they had determined everyone's outlook - she recalls the years as full of endless struggles.

This lesson is one that I cherish. One mother's attitude was able to alter the whole state of being in her home at a time when the nation as a whole was struggling. I'm sure it was not easy nor comfortable for her - but her outlook on life made it easier for everyone else, and the situation was then supplemented and sustained on the rich things she could offer: family, laughter, love, and God."

Thanks for the inspiration Brent and Melissa, we are so happy that our girls, born in the same year, will always be tied together by the special bond of sharing a name.

Anyway, Kennedy Eva Thatcher, we welcome you to our family and love that you have finally arrived.

As to Ms. Claire and how she is feeling about the event, I think this photo explains it all.