Utah parents give birth to Alaska son, first baby of 2003
Camille Castillo-Johnson always knew she would have an Alaska baby.
And she wasn't about to let the fact that she and her husband, Travis Johnson, live in Salt Lake City change her plans.
The couple's first child -- and the first baby born on the central Kenai Peninsula in 2003 -- Gabriel Golden Johnson, was born at 2:36 a.m. Wednesday at Central Peninsula General Hospital.
He weighed 8 pounds, 2.5 ounces and measured 21 inches.
"From the beginning, I told Travis this is where I'm having the baby," Camille said, during an interview in her hospital room Thursday morning. "I love it here; I just hate the winters."
Camille was born in Seward and raised in Kenai, where her parents Linda and James Crandall still live. Travis, the fifth of 10 children, was born and raised in Salt Lake City. His parents, Pamela and Stan Johnson, live in Utah.
The couple plans to take Gabriel back to Salt Lake City in a few weeks, but hopes to buy a house in Alaska in the next couple of years and spend three to four summer months a year here.
In Salt Lake City, Travis works as a sculptor, and Camille currently works as a photographer, taking both portraits and "surprise" pictures of people.
"My absolute goal as a photographer is to capture a child's laughter," Camille said.
"I haven't been working that hard at it lately, but I have a feeling someone's going to start being my new subject," she added, looking at her son.
Eventually, Camille said, she hopes to open a hospice for children. She also hopes to have at least one more child, if not two or three more.
"(Gabriel) can be a big brother and take care of his other siblings when they come," she said.
Aside from that, Camille said she and her husband don't have specific plans for his future.
"(My hope is) just for him to be happy in whatever he chooses to do and that he's able to help people and that someday he'll just look outside and see all the beauty of the world," Camille said.
"I'm pretty much an optimist," she said. "I honestly believe everything will be OK for everyone and for the future generation to come. I believe they're going to be a little brighter."
So far, she said, things are off to a good start for her son.
Both mother and child were doing well Thursday morning and were scheduled to be released from the hospital that afternoon.
Gabriel was brought into the world in the presence of loved ones.
Travis stayed in the room with Camille through the delivery, as did Camille's mom, Linda.
"I have a sister in Montana and both her little girls were born out of the state," Camille said.
"My mother wasn't able to be there with her, so this is the first grandchild she's got to see being born."
"My dad stayed in the waiting room," Camille added laughing. "But they're very excited."
Plus, there's the excitement of having the first baby of the new year, which Camille never planned.
"They just came up here so she could have the baby at home," said Linda Crandall.
"He just happened to be due on the holidays."
In fact, Gabriel -- named for the archangel -- was originally due before Christmas, but Camille didn't start going into labor until this week.
She said she visited the hospital Tuesday afternoon for a routine nonstress test and found that she was having mild contractions.
"I didn't even notice," she said.
Later that night, the contractions began getting stronger, and she returned to the hospital between 10:30 and 11 p.m.
Gabriel was the only baby born New Year's Day at CPGH. As such, his family will receive a number of gifts from the hospital and other local merchants.
After he was born, Camille and Travis wished each other a special happy new year.
"This is the best New Year's I've ever had," Camille said.
"They've always been pretty dull, but I think they're going to be pretty exciting now. This may be changed into my favorite holiday."