New Year's Day Baby Has Memorable Birth

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Jan 1, 2010 at 8:41 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 1, 2010 at 10:29 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - James Landon Nelson was born January 1 at 2:35 am at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. His parents aren't the least bit concerned he just missed being the first baby born in the Corridor in 2010. That's because he still has a memorable story to tell.

The welcome sign on the hospital room door says James Landon Nelson, but the one-day-old baby boy already has a nickname.

"I call him Buddy," says James Nelson.

Buddy doesn't know this yet, but his dad almost didn't make it home for his birth. Specialist James Nelson is in the Army Reserves and is currently serving in Iraq.

"I missed pretty much the whole pregnancy, and I really didn't want to miss this," says James.

Little James made it pretty difficult on his dad. Doctors recently told Ashly she would would likely deliver their first child a week early. James wasn't sure he'd be able to bump up his two-week leave from duty.

"I decided to keep it a secret. I knew for three weeks, almost a month, I was going to come home early, but I didn't want to tell her. But then she did the whole "I want you to come home" thing, and I broke down and told her I was coming home early," says James.

Ashly's grateful her husband was there to hold her hand as she went into active labor late New Year's Eve night.

"I started actively pushing at 11:30 and had a C-section at 2:00," says Ashly.

Little James entered the world just eight minutes shy of being the first baby born in the Corridor in 2010. It's still a neat title, but a New Year's Eve birthday would've been more memorable for this family.

"Ironically we met New Year's Eve two years ago," says Ashly.

James and Ashly are ready to bring their healthy baby boy home and enjoy as much family time as possible. James heads back to Iraq in a little less than two weeks.

"We will be video chatting a lot more now," says Ashly.

James is glad he can see his son while he's overseas, he can't wait until he's back with his buddy for good.

The baby born just before James on January 1 is a baby girl named Hailey. She was born at St. Luke's Hospital at 2:27 am.

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