Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 2, 1995 TAG: 9501030107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Cameron Alexander Nelson became this year's first baby, making his entrance at Lewis-Gale Hospital at 5:56 a.m. Sunday. The hospital staff decorated his crib with the words: ``Roanoke Valley's first baby 1995.''
"I like different names," names that other children don't have, said Wendy Nelson of her new son's. "We looked through baby books and hashed things out together for something we could agree on."
Cameron came from the book and Alexander was chosen for a middle name after the baby was born.
Wendy Nelson works for Commercial Credit Corp. on Peters Creek Rd. Her husband, Jesse Nelson, is employed by UPS. They live at 8864 Reservoir Road in Roanoke.
The Nelsons greeted the new year at the home of friends, where she started feeling contractions about 10 p.m. She said she "pigged out" on the cake at the gathering because she knew the hospital wouldn't let her eat before delivery.
They reached home about 1:30 a.m. Sunday and went to the hospital about an hour later.
Cameron has two brothers. Spencer Ryan Nelson, 5, won a statewide contest for beautiful babies at the age of 3 months, then went on to place in the nation's top 10. Taylor Andrew Nelson already runs a computer at the age of 3.
The Nelson baby was due Dec. 26, but Wendy Nelson said she prefers a January birthday for Cameron over one colliding with the Christmas holiday.
The delay cost the Nelsons a tax deduction for last year, but Cameron Nelson was the first to qualify for a new Lewis-Gale program of a flat fee of $2,800 for a normal delivery. The hospital said the average cost of childbirth is $4,000.
Just over an hour later, at 7:12 a.m., Cameron James Hicks was born at Community Hospital. He is the first child of Lisa and Greg Hicks of Troutville, who have been married for two years.
Greg Hicks works for John Hancock Financial Services in Roanoke.
Lisa Hicks said they both picked out the name Cameron at virtually the same time. She thought of the name one day when she was headed home and, when she got there, Greg Hicks suggested the name to her.
Lisa Hicks' due date was Dec. 12, so Cameron was three weeks late. Lisa Hicks, who was in labor 32 hours, said she was just glad to see Cameron born.
The last baby of the old year, qualifying for a tax deduction, was another boy. John Thomas Graham Mosier was born at 11:13 p.m. Saturday at Community Hospital.
He is the son of Sandra Graham and her fiance, David Mosier, of Daleville. Graham said she and Mosier plan to marry in a few months.
Graham said they didn't worry about the tax deduction because her due date was Jan. 9. "We never thought we'd be here New Year's Eve," she said.
by CNB