Baby New Year

By Teddye Snell, Press Staff Writer

Cherokee County couple Justin and Katrina Pease just celebrated their second anniversary, at W.W. Hastings Indian Medical Center.

That may not sound like a romantic setting for a semi-newlywed couple. But the Peases were too busy bringing their daughter into the world to notice.

“Dakota Marie was born at 6:25 a.m. on New Year’s day,” said Katrina. “We were so excited.”

Dakota, who is the couple’s first child, weighed 8 pounds and 2 ounces.

Katrina worked until Thursday, Dec. 29, as a clerk at Wal-Mart. Justin is a jailer in Wagoner County.

They said deciding on a name was difficult.

“We knew her middle name would be Marie, after Justin’s grandma,” said Katrina. “But we just couldn’t agree at first on her first name.”

Katrina happened upon an issue of “People” magazine with a photo of Dakota Fanning in it, and the baby’s fate was sealed.

“I just loved the way it sounded,” said Katrina. “Dakota Marie. It’s so pretty. I loved the combination, so that’s how it happened.”

The Peases are fortunate to live in a time when the sex of a child can be determined early; however, there’s something to be said for a mother’s intuition.

“We knew from the ultrasounds we were having a girl,” said Katrina. “But my mother knew it long before then.”

Katrina’s sister, Diane Owen, 19, was born on New Year’s Eve, and was fiercely protective of her birthday.

“I’m glad she’s here, but I kept telling them they couldn’t have her on my birthday,” said Owen.

The new family left the hospital Tuesday afternoon, armed with lots of supplies.

“Since we had the first baby of 2006, the hospital gave us lots of diapers and clothing sizes to last her first year,” said Katrina. “It was so great. The auxiliary also provided us with blanket, toys and another whole bag of stuff. We’re very thankful.”

The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year started in Greece around 600 BC. The Greek tradition at that time was to celebrate Dionysus, the god of wine, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to re-evaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of Jesus.

The image of a baby with a New Year’s banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans, who had used the effigy since the 14th century.

From early indications, Kimberly Souva and Jason Kirk were also going to have a New Year’s Day baby, but ended up having to wait until late Tuesday night for their son to arrive. The local couple checked in at Tahlequah City Hospital at 3:30 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Hayden Matthew Michael Kirk was born at 11:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2, following 19 hours of labor, which ended in a Caesarian birth. He weighed 6 pounds and 12-1/2 ounces, and was 18-1/2 inches long.

“It was scary because after they gave me the first epidural, both my heart and the baby’s heart stopped beating,” said Kimberly, who is 18. “Well, they gave me medicine to get my heart rate fixed, which caused the contractions to be a lot worse. I’m still kind of groggy from the anesthesia they gave me for the C-section.”

Jason, 17, was concerned about his partner and child, but is happy the baby has arrived safely.

“She wasn’t due [to give birth] until Jan. 3,” said Jason. “So we’re glad everything’s OK.”

Kimberly’s mother, Denise Allmond of Keys, was in the delivery room with her daughter as her coach. Hayden is Denise and Jim Allmond’s first grandchild.

The couple live with Jason’s mother, Loretta Kirk, who became a grandmother twice in less than two weeks.

“My mom wasn’t a grandmother until Dec. 23,” said Jason. “Hayden’s cousin, Aiden, was born then. It’s kinda cool – the names, Hayden and Aiden.”

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