What's so special about December 14th?

It was a cold, Wintery day. I was scheduled to be induced. Actually I had tried to set up the induction for December 13th, my twin uncles' birthday(s). However, I called in the morning of the 13th and they weren't able to set it up for the same day, so I was going to have a baby on December 14, 1999.

I was excited and scared when I found out we were going to have another baby. We were living in Mayport, Florida and John had just gotten to his first command, the USS John Hancock.(February 1999) Jeremy was 2 years old. I was 21.

I was almost scared to tell my family I was pregnant again. However, when I called and shared the news, they were very excited and supportive. I guess it's different when you're married. LOL. (Jeremy was 6 months old when we got married)

One of the reasons I was scared was because I was a million miles from "home". I was out in the middle of nowhere with my husband and our son. I didn't know anybody else.  I would be seeing a new doctor. It was a lot to take in. Those first few months I was pretty sick and miserable. We were excited to be looking forward to a new baby though. We soon found out that John would be going out on his first deployment in September. I wasn't too thrilled about that.  It took awhile before we realized he wouldn't be there when the baby was born.

Being a new Navy wife, I was getting stronger, but I had no desire to stay in an unfamiliar area miles away from family with a toddler and give birth to another baby. That just seemed nuts to me. Why put myself through that if I didn't have to? So it was decided. I was going to move back to Utah for awhile. We were happy to say good riddance to our apartment. Goodbye mold/mildew. Goodbye painted over cobwebs.

I was entering another chapter in my life. I was dealing with our first deployment and our 2nd baby. Even though I would be surrounded by friends and family. I was doing it alone. Before I moved back home, (with my parents) I had found out that my sister was pregnant as well. This was her first child. How exciting to be pregnant together.

I don't remember much about John leaving. I just remember driving him to the airport and coming home and sleeping.

I was pregnant, so that wasn't unheard of, but I think also I was a little bit depressed. But life went on.  Little Jeremy kept me busy and laughing.  It was good to be home and not alone.

I woke up on December 14, 1999 and I was a mix of emotions. I was excited to know that my little girl was going to be born, but I did not want to go to the hospital without John. Maybe I shouldn't have scheduled an induction. Maybe I should have procrastinated. But today was the day and I had to be strong. (the memories are opening the floodgates)

It was a birthing party. I invited just about everybody to be there. And because I have the most awesome Dr. and nurses, I was allowed to do that. My 2 best friends were there, Stephanie and Terrill. I believe Stephanie was my camera woman. (video) My pregnant sister was there, only 6 weeks away from having her own baby. My mom and dad were there, John's parents, and  John's sisters and little Jeremy.

(I swear I'm missing some pictures)

For good luck I wore my USS John Hancock ball cap. I think we got to the hospital around 8:00 AM. It made my day when the phone rang. It was for me. It was my husband. He got to call me from the ship's phone. (if I remember correctly) He called twice. Right before she was born and right after. That was pretty freaking cool!

Nothing fancy or complicated about the labor and delivery. Tristan was born at 3:48 PM.

I couldn't wait for John to meet her. Luckily we had a digital camera and my dad was able to e-mail pictures to John on the ship. At least he got to see her the day she was born. 

It was so fun to have a baby born 11 days before Christmas!

Dang it, where's that cute picture of her in her carseat under the tree?    :(


She was 3 months old when John finally got to meet her and hold her, the day he got back from Deployment.

Tristan came into our lives in a very memorable way. Happy Birthday sweetie!