By AnneMarie Knepper
Albany democrat-herald | Posted: Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:00 am
After three ultrasounds, parents weren't sure what the sex of their baby would be
Surprise! It's a girl.
Parents Heidiann and Dean Nicholson of Sweet Home were thrilled to a deliver a happy, healthy baby girl, the first Linn County birth of the new year, at 8:05 a.m. Jan. 1 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
But they weren't expecting a pink blanket.
The Nicholsons were told they were expecting a boy.
Mom Heidiann had the ultrasounds performed in Hood River, where she works as a an assistant manager for Safeway grocery. She is on leave now but plans to transfer to the Sweet Home store later.
Dad Dean also works for Safeway, as a store manager.
The first two ultrasounds were labeled "male," the third "unclear."
"He was very off," laughed Dean. "As long as they are healthy. That's all that matters."
The Nicholsons painted the nursery green, "so it's pretty neutral," Heidiann said.
"With a big yellow 'O' to be added soon," joked Dean, who was wearing a University of Oregon hat.
Baby Nicholson had a due date of Dec. 25.
"From one holiday to the next," Dean said. "She went into labor at 11 a.m. New Year's Eve."
Twenty-one hours and five minutes later, the baby arrived.
"Right before you are thinking, 'What did I get myself into?'" Heidiann said. Then, when it is over, "You think, what a beautiful thing."
And the baby is beautiful, with brown hair and pretty, and big, curving lips, like the Gerber baby.
She joins two big sisters, Chelsea, 10 and Katie, 16.
Paternal grandparents are Scott and Chu Nicholson of Sweet Home. Maternal grandparents are Bill and Gail Cumming of West Linn.
The baby girl, who has not yet been named, weighed eight pounds and one ounce at birth and was 20 and 3/4 inches long.