First baby born in 2004 waited for new year
But babies have minds of their own, and James let 11 days pass before he showed up — all 9 pounds, 10 ounces of him — at the University of Washington Medical Center one minute and 20 seconds into 2004.
Born to Rainier Beach residents Johnette Turner, 31, and James A. Haines Sr., 38, James is believed to be the first baby of the year in the Seattle area. "So far, he's just been a lot of joy," his mother told reporters at the hospital yesterday afternoon.
This is the first baby for the couple, who between them have 10 other children. Turner said this one stands out in two ways: being a New Year's baby and "the biggest I've had."
Turner entered the hospital Tuesday, and a hospital spokeswoman said plans were being made to induce labor about 5 or 6 a.m. yesterday if James had not arrived.
Haines, who called his new son "our New Year's gift," said the family passed through significant dates waiting for James, hoping the baby would arrive on any one of them. Dec. 23 is Haines' father's birthday; the 24th is Turner's birthday; the 25th, Haines noted, was "Jesus Christ's birthday"; and Jan. 1 was the birthday of Turner's late grandmother.
Other hospitals also had new arrivals in the early hours of the new year. At Bellevue's Overlake Hospital Medical Center, a 9-pound girl was born at 12:25 a.m. to Lisa and Sean Kelly. At 1:48 a.m. at Swedish Medical Center's First Hill campus, a baby boy was born to Reagan Ott and Jacob Longbrake of Lynnwood.
Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com.