Mail Tribune News - You could call him Y2Konner

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2000-05-23

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You could call him Y2Konner photo by Jim Craven  Konner Norman Michaels rang in the New Year with distinction as Jackson County's first baby of 2000. His parents, Amy and Jason, say they were definitely not trying for a millennium baby -- Konner arrived on his own schedule at Rogue Valley Medical Center to join half-sister Kierstin, center, and brother Karl. County's first baby of year arrived late By JoNel Aleccia of the Mail Tribune The lights were on and the phones still worked at Rogue Valley Medical Center Saturday, where Jackson County's first baby of 2000 gave new meaning to the phrase "Y2K-compliant." Konner Norman Michaels of Medford arrived without a glitch 45 minutes into the new century, narrowly nudging a girl born three minutes later. His New Year's birth was a surprise to parents Jason and Amy Michaels, who had scoffed at tales of couples trying to conceive millennium babies. "We were definitely NOT one of those people," said Amy Michaels. "He was due on Dec. 22. I missed my tax deduction!" The 25-year-old mother went into labor about 9 p.m. New Year's Eve. She and her 29-year-old husband, who works for Southern Oregon Countertops, marked midnight in the hospital, leaving the rest of the family to welcome 2000. "I missed it," said grandmother Rochelle Michaels of Medford. "We were at a party." Silly hats, streamers and balloons decked the room where the 7-pound, 10-ounce boy greeted television cameras and well-wishers. As the Rogue Valley's first baby, he received a white stocking trimmed in gold with the numbers "2000," a $50 gift certificate from the Rogue Valley Medical Center Auxiliary Guild, an engraved silver cup from John Nuich Jewelers of Medford, and certificates from Christopher Briscoe Photography of Ashland and Snow White Diaper Service and Laundry of Medford. The baby arrived with a full head of dark hair and a healthy set of lungs. He joins brother Karl, 20 months, and half-sister Kierstin, 8. Konner's 01-01-00 birthday will be shared with Jordan Taylor, who arrived at 12:48 a.m., claiming second-baby-of-the-century status. Third place in the local baby race went to a little girl born to Rani and Corey Hansen of Rogue River. The Hansens' daughter arrived at 2:13 a.m. at the Providence BirthPlace in Medford. Delivering the second baby of the new year was just fine with Jordan's mom, Miranda Brown, 18, of Medford. After a hard, 20-hour labor, she said the last thing on her mind was the new year. "She was due Jan. 14," Brown said. "I'm just glad it's over." Mail Tribune Copyright �  The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA