Brody Shawn Messer rang in the new year as the first born island baby of 2008.

Brody was born at 10:27 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the Naval Hospital in Oak Harbor. He was a healthy 7 pounds, 11 ounces and was 21 ½ inches long.

Bailey Messer, 6, and her sister Breanna, 5, declared that their new baby brother Brody was a sight to behold.

“He’s soooooo cute,” the girls said together.

Parents Bronwyn and Petty Officer 2nd Class Von Messer were so pleased to add a boy to their family that they decided on the Irish name Brody, which means “brother.”

The Oak Harbor family has been stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for five years; the baby’s father is an aviation machinist mate at Fleet Readiness Center Northwest.

Dad’s readiness must have been passed down to his son as Brody was certainly ready on Wednesday.

Bronwyn said the delivery went fairly quickly having arrived at the hospital about 5:30 a.m. It only took about five hours before the Messers were the proud parents and sisters of the island’s first born.

Bronwyn said Brody’s sisters have been showering him with kisses and hugs and have taken charge of their baby brother’s daily fashion statement by picking out his clothes for him.

“They’ve had him three outfits just for today,” Bronwyn said.

Brody will be the last of the Messer brood, said mom, so it was a pleasant surprise to have him be honored as the first baby of 2008 on the island.

“We thought he’d be born before New Year’s day,” she said. “We thought he’d be a Christmas baby, but this is really cool.”