First baby dazzles Daddy

Time and date of birth: 12:42 a.m. on April 5, 1999. Weight: 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Height: 22 1/2 inches. Number of dresses he and his wife Rebecca have bought for their infant daughter: one, thanks to family and friends who have given generously.

"And we're not going to have to buy her another one for a couple of months, too," Jim said.

First-timer

When Jim and Rebecca learned last summer that she finally had gotten pregnant, both cried; but Jim's joy was tempered somewhat. "It was exciting, but I was tentatively excited because we had been trying for so long," he said.

At the time, Jim and Rebecca had just returned to the Capital Region and extended family members after living in Boston, so the timing of Rebecca's pregnancy was fortuitous.

Getting ready

"It was hard to look too far ahead," Jim said. "I know some couples start thinking, 'How am I going to pay for the baby's college?' But we didn't do any long-term planning."

Among Jim and Rebecca's relatives, the reaction was slightly different. While Jim's relatives were happy for the parents-to-be, his younger brother and sister-in-law had had the first Whelan grandson five years earlier. His sister and brother-in-law later had the family's first granddaughter.

"It wasn't as big a deal as it could have been," Jim said of his pending parenthood.

Rebecca's parents, on the other hand, were experiencing the birth of a grandchild for the first time, and her pregnancy made major news among her relatives.

Here she comes

They also were told some exciting news by the doctor: Their baby's anticipated due date was April 18, Jim's birthday, a scenario that made him especially proud but also made him realize that his birthday could be taking a backseat once the baby was born.

Jim grew more and more anxious as the birth of his first child drew closer. "It's a sustained nine months of that original feeling of happiness, and I'm an impatient person to begin with," he said. "It's all you think about and all you talk about at work, with family, with friends."

Finally here

They arrived at Bellevue Woman's Hospital in Niskayuna around 10:30 that night. Word spread quickly through their families that another grandchild soon would be on the way. Family members gathered at the hospital on April 4, Easter Sunday, and were waiting for the birth, but Jim's attention was focused entirely upon his wife. He joined her in the delivery room and used what he learned in Lamaze classes to help her through the birth, but he admitted being on edge about the birthing process.

"I was very, very nervous about whether I'd be able to physically handle this," he said. "It doesn't matter how much preparation you think you have." He played up his nervousness in front of the doctors and nurses, and got a few laughs.

Elizabeth arrives

"We didn't cry. It was past crying at that point. It was more a feeling of awe and amazement," Jim said.

Their feelings of joy soon turned to concern because Elizabeth had an irregular heartbeat. That period of uncertainty was more nerve-racking than the actual birth, Jim said, but he didn't want Rebecca to sense his worry.

"You're the support system, so you don't want to freak out, when I easily could have," he said.

After the nurses made sure Elizabeth was okay, Jim and Rebecca held her and went to another room where their relatives could see the newest member of the family. By 2 a.m., most everybody was tired and ready to head home; Jim eventually did the same but was back early the next morning.

Now a family

Now that Elizabeth has been home for a few months, things finally have settled down. Rebecca has returned to work, the Baptism took place at St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Guilderland, and the new parents have begun experiencing the joys and challenges of parenthood.

Jim is the second-oldest of 11 children, and the family values he learned while growing up certainly will play a part in his parenting, but not in identical fashion.

"I'm glad I had that in my life, and it will translate to my raising Elizabeth," he said. "But I'm trying not to consciously have her life be like mine was growing up."

He and Rebecca are just happy that their daughter is healthy and they're getting on with life with baby Elizabeth.

"It's the most amazing thing in the world, but it can happen to anybody," Jim said.

(07-29-99) [[In-content Ad]]