Family members say Kathy and Jason Bates of Graham were meant to be parents.
And in the wee hours of the new year, they got their wish with the arrival of Sydney Lee Bates.
She arrived at 1:46 a.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. She weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces.
Among all of Pierce County’s major medical facilities, Sydney earned the honors as Pierce County’s earliest arrival of 2013.
She is the first child for the couple, who have been married 10 years.
“We figured she would be born on New Year’s Eve,” said Kathy, who was scheduled to have her labor induced.
She and her husband left Graham about 6 a.m. on New Year’s Eve.
“There was no traffic coming this way,” said a grateful Jason.
“I figured if we got here by 6:30, we’d have her by the end of the year,” Kathy said.
But Sydney had other ideas. After many hours of labor, doctors decided Kathy needed a Caesarean section to deliver safely.
“They decided on the surgery around midnight,” said Jason.
The couple said they were surprised when they learned Kathy was expecting.
“I was nervous, but excited,” said Kathy, 41.
“I cried,” said niece Johanna Dwyer of Puyallup.
In the hospital room Tuesday, little Sydney was handed gently from family member to family member as she slept peacefully.
While everyone smiled at the baby, her parents came in for their share of accolades as well.
“They are the most giving aunt and uncle around,” said Dwyer, who said Jason and Kathy have always been great helping with her children.
Now, family members will be able to pay them back for their generosity.
“We haven’t had a baby in the family for eight or nine years,” said Dwyer. “We are all very excited.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com
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