Fifth time’s the charm for family

She was simultaneously the first and the fifth.

By now, four older brothers in Pinedale have met their new baby sister — and the first baby born at St. John’s Medical Center in 2017.

“They’re all waiting,” James Cochran said Tuesday. “They’re excited.”

His daughter, Brooklyn Elizabeth Cochran, was delivered at 9:53 a.m. Monday, Jan 2. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces.

Brooklyn is the Cochrans’ first girl. And while giving birth might be routine for Becky Cochran, who said she wasn’t feeling tired, she and her husband couldn’t take their eyes off their new daughter.

James Cochran was thrilled for his wife and what the arrival of Brooklyn meant for their family.

“It’s a really big deal,” James Cochran said. “She finally got her little girl.”

Obstetrics Director Monica Lesley was surprised that no babies were born Jan. 1.

“We were calling every day,” Lesley said. “Is there a baby? Is there a baby?”

The first baby of 2016 was born at 5:25 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

The Cochrans’ sons, age 12, 10, 6 and 1 1/2, are certainly going to be protective of the newest member of the family.

“She’s going to be a great girl,” said Dr. Paul Beaupre, the CEO of St. John’s. “They’re going to toughen her up, but they’ll also have her back.”

Beaupre came by the Cochran’s room to offer his congratulations.

Despite the visitors oohing and aahing Brooklyn was unperturbed by all the attention. Besides a few little gurgles, not a cry was heard. Two tiny pink bows were nestled in her shock of dark brown hair.

Becky and James Cochran said it was too early to tell if she looked like any of her older siblings.

Sleepily blinking her eyes, Brooklyn seemed to be taking in the snowy world outside her window.

And what a world it was. The sun peeked through the clouds and flurries of snow softly continued to blanket the ground. The Cochrans lucked out with Becky Cochran’s birthing room, a corner suite with panoramic views.

Hospital staffers joked that new parents sometimes don’t want to leave. After all, what’s better than a view of the National Elk Refuge flanked by the Tetons — with a whirlpool to boot?

When you live outside Jackson, planning is key for delivery. In Brooklyn’s case it was a relatively easy process for everyone involved. Her parents drove to Jackson on New Year’s Day to be prepared.

“We took our time to get up here,” James Cochran said. “It worked out really good. You can’t chance it with these roads, especially in the winter.”

Then it went like clockwork. Becky Cochran’s water broke at 8:53 a.m. the next day. One hour later little Brooklyn came into the world.

The Cochrans said they’d be driving back down to Pinedale very, very carefully with their precious cargo. When asked if he’d be more cautious than usual, James Cochran smiled.

“Oh yeah,” Cochran said. “Definitely.”