New Year brings new life to family name

With grins from ear to ear the Bodley family admired their new addition to the nest.

Weighing 3.03kg, Eric John Bodley entered the world five days ahead of schedule at 11.29pm on Wednesday, January 1, crowning him Rockingham General Hospital’s first baby for 2014.

Proud parents Sarah and Tim Bodley, of Warnbro, said they could not have asked for a better New Year’s gift.

After a quiet New Year’s Eve watching movies, the couple said they were not convinced Eric was on his way because Mrs Bodley had experienced Braxton Hicks contractions over the past couple of months.

But, to their surprise, Mrs Bodley’s waters broke about 2.45pm on January 1.

Nearly nine hours later Eric arrived, and was the only New Year’s Day baby delivered at RGH.

“I felt joy, happiness and relief,” Mrs Bodley said. She said Eric, the couple’s second child, was a smooth pregnancy.

“As pregnancy goes, it was a lot harder having an 18-month-old climbing all over you when you have a belly,” Mrs Bodley said.

“I wouldn’t say it was the worst pregnancy and I wouldn’t say it was the best.”

Mr Bodley said the name was chosen in honour of both Eric’s grandfathers.

“Eric is my father’s middle name and John is Sarah’s step father’s middle name,” he said.

“He is the second boy born in my family since my brother and me... my brother had a son about six months ago.

“My dad was the younger of the two brothers and he had my brother and me, but my uncle only had daughters.”

He said he was pleased Eric would carry on the Bodley name.