Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)  Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s first baby of 2018 wastes no time in arriving

On Sunday night, Dominique and Christine Johnson were attending the New Year’s Eve balloon drop at the JRC Alaska Club. Just a few hours later, Christine was giving birth to Juneau’s first baby of 2018.

Adelaide Olivia Johnson was born at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Family Health and Birth Center, weighing exactly 9 pounds.

Christine had been having contractions during the weekend, and she and Dominique decided that they should go to the Birth Center to at least get checked out. The staff members there said Christine was probably halfway to having the baby and that she could go home and keep waiting.

“We just decided to stay,” at the Birth Center, Christine said, “and things went rather quickly from there.”

Less than four hours later, Adelaide was born. After going through a 36-hour labor for the couple’s first baby three years ago, Christine was thrilled with the quick delivery of the family’s newest member.

The labor sped along, and as midnight approached, they and the midwife Chelsea Jahn kept an eye on the clock. With Christine’s due date being Jan. 4, they knew that a New Year’s baby was a possibility. Having the first birth of 2018 would be a fun distinction to have, but they weren’t picky.

“I was at the point where I was like, ‘I’m cool with the last baby of (2017) too,’” Christine said. “’Let’s just have this baby.’”

Less than half an hour into the year, Adelaide arrived. Christine’s father’s birthday is also Jan. 1, and he turned 65 on Monday.

On Monday afternoon, a Bartlett Regional Hospital spokesperson confirmed that no children had been born at the hospital Monday.

The process continued to move quickly for the Johnsons, as they were cleared to leave the Birth Center less than four hours after Christine had given birth. They drove very slowly on the way home, carrying precious cargo through the snow.

As they sat in their living room Monday afternoon, Christine and Dominique didn’t show any signs of having been up all night and Adelaide slept quietly in Christine’s arms.

This week quickly turned from a celebration of the new year to a celebration of a new family member for the Johnsons, and they beamed as they recounted their story Monday afternoon.

“It’s the best way to start the new year,” Christine said.


• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in front of snow-covered Mount Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska legislators say state’s fiscal picture is among the worst in decades

A planned increase for K-12 public school spending is expected to significantly reduce the PFD.

The Norwegian Jewel begins its departure from Juneau on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, marking the official end of the annual cruise ship season. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Community support for tourism continues slow decline in annual survey

29% say impacts generally positive, 13% negative; responses were 40% positive, 6% negative in 2002

Large cracks in the Mendenhall Glacier are observed by U.S. Forest Service officials on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
‘A substantial portion of the Mendenhall Glacier is expected to collapse at any time’

Warning issued Tuesday morning by U.S. Forest Service after recent calving, large crack spotted.

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley in Juneau on Aug. 6, 2024. The flood was from an outburst at Suicide Basin, part of the Mendenhall Glacier complex. A similar glacial outburst flood struck the same area in 2023. (Image courtesy of Rich Ross)
Bill would establish Alaska alternative to federal flood insurance program

The Alaska Legislature is considering a bill that would create a new… Continue reading

A girl uses her cellphone at Bronx High School of Science in New York on Jan. 11, 2016. (Yana Paskova for The New York Times)
Juneau School District seeks feedback from community on cellphone policy

The conversation rises from cellphone bans happening nationally and at the state level.

Juneau International Airport is getting new leadership in its administration and board of directors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly names two new airport board members in shakeup after budget stalemate

Angela Rodell and David Epstein, both former members, to get quick start at seeking solution this week.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read