It's a Boy

Monday, January 3, 2011
Jessica McFerron holds her newborn son Jacob Ray McFerron Jr. Jacob is the second child of Jessica and Jacob McFerron.

GREENCASTLE -- He was due on Jan. 1, but Jacob Ray McFerron Jr. chose to be fashionably late.

Although he didn't arrive until 7:16 a.m. on Jan. 2, Jacob was still the first baby born in Putnam County in 2011.

Jacob is the son of Jessica and Jacob McFerron. He joins a sister, Kendra, 11 months.

Jacob McFerron holds newborn Jacob Jr.

Jessica is the daughter of Ted and Kathy Muckey of Greencastle. Jessica's mother was in the delivery room when her grandson came into the world.

"My mom cut the cord," Jessica said.

Having her children so close together was not something Jessica, 22, planned.

"I guess you could say he was a surprise," she said with a smile.

Jacob weighed in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. He was bigger than his sister, who didn't quite weigh 6 pounds at birth.

"I came in at 4:45 in the morning and had him at 7:16," Jessica said. "With his sister I was in labor for 16 hours."

Jessica said she had some fears that she would be in labor as long for her son as she was for her daughter.

"It was quicker this time, but I don't know that it was better," Jessica said.

Jessica is a stay-at-home mother. She hopes that, because her children are so close in age they will grow up to be good friends.

"(Kendra) thinks he's her baby doll," Jessica said.

Jessica never experienced any preterm labor or other problems, so the McFerrons had no idea whether or not Jacob Jr. would be born on his due date.

"We didn't know for sure when he was coming," Jacob Sr. said.

For a short time, Jessica and Jacob thought their son would be making his appearance on New Year's Day. Jessica began having contractions on Jan. 1. She went to the hospital in the morning, but was only dilated 1 centimeter.

Doctors sent Jessica home at 2 p.m. Just short of 15 hours later, she was back.

The McFerrons chose to know the sex of their baby before he was born. They didn't discuss many names, Jessica said -- they planned from the beginning to name the baby after his father if he was a boy.

Jessica said both her children resemble their father.

Jessica, who graduated from Greencastle High School in 2007, is unsure if she will have more children.

"This is probably it," she said, gazing lovingly at her new baby boy. "But I may just have one more."

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  • Congratulations!!!!! I wish you both well, such a beautiful baby!

    -- Posted by lp_27 on Mon, Jan 3, 2011, at 8:20 AM
  • Congrats! Have a blessed life together.

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Tue, Jan 4, 2011, at 9:57 AM
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