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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Meet Niko

He's here!



And he's a he :)



We would have been thrilled with a girl, too - it's been a long time since there was a baby girl in the house and I really love the name we had picked out for her.

But now we're fielding even teams and I love that our house will always have a girls' room and a boys' room.  Plural.  And Gabriel gets a brother.



Thursday morning I woke up feeling crampy and wondering whether this was finally it (I was due Friday).  By about 1 p.m. I was pretty sure I was in labor.  The kids were already at my sister's house, so I made some food, did all the laundry in the house and got the bedroom ready for the birth. 
 

The midwives arrived around 6 p.m. Thursday and Niko was born at 1:47 a.m. on Friday, which was a feast day in the Orthodox Church honoring Saint Nicholas.  That was pretty amazing since we had planned to name a potential baby boy after the saint all along.
 

Nicholas is a family name - my brother, uncle, great-uncle and grandfather all share the name. My mother really wanted the tradition to continue.

I wish she were here to see him.


Labor was more difficult than I had anticipated, it being my fourth birth and all.  Dilation took awhile and I had that can't-do-this-anymore transition feeling well before I reached "official" transition.  But I finally got him out.  After I had pushed his head out, the midwives said something to me, and I answered, and the baby swiveled 180 degrees in the direction of my voice.  That did not feel good.  But the midwives thought it was pretty neat.  I wish I had seen it but I was too busy, you know, pushing and all.  He was 7 lbs 13 oz and 20.5 inches long.



I can't believe I have four kids.

Earlier in the pregnancy, Natasha wasn't sure she wanted another sibling.  But she came around.


Zoia positively glowed when she held Niko for the fist time.


Gabriel is fascinated by his little brother.
   


And I am just overwhelmed with gratitude.


10 comments:

  1. Ahhhhh. He's gorgeous, the sibling pics are so sweet, and you look absolutely radiant, mama. Welcome Niko!! Thank you for sharing your birth story ... wait, he swiveled to your voice when he was halfway out? Sweet, sweet, boy, but ... owwwwww.

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  2. Congratulations, Niko is beautiful and I love the name and its special significance.

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  3. Aw what a sweet baby and story! Coincidentally, I was just talking to Dan about this name this evening! <3 many blessing to you and your lovely family! He's perfect!

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  4. Oh Masha, you are so amazing!! Congratulations again on your new babe! Niko is just so so precious! Makes me want to have another baby!

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    1. Yeah, I kind of feel like you're not done yet ... but I am!

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  5. Congratulations, he looks gorgeous.

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  6. So happy for you Masha! I was just wondering if you'd had your little one yet so it was good to see the cute post when I popped in. Glad to hear all are well, I'm sure your Mom would love to know that family tradition is continuing. Wishing you happy days and restful (finger crossed) nights.

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  7. Congrats on the arrival of your gorgeous son :)

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  8. He's so beautiful! Congratulations on such a beautiful baby.

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Hi! I am so happy you came by. Thanks for your comment!