Josie Lauren Schmidt is a lot of firsts.

The first baby born at Kootenai Health this year. The first baby born to her parents, Nikki and Mike Schmidt. The first grandchild in both of their families. And the first baby born in Coeur d’Alene this decade.

Her parents met in third grade at Hayden Meadows Elementary School.

“We grew up together,” Nikki said.

“They got married on the playground in the fourth grade,” Cheryl Clark, Nikki’s mom, said with a chuckle. “We weren’t invited.”

But the whole family was invited to the real wedding on June 23, 2018, at the Hayden Lake Country Club.

“We always wanted to be parents,” Nikki said. “Josie was kind of a surprise, but we were ready.”

Josie arrived at 11:35 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. She was 20.5 inches long.

The couple are both 25 years old. Nikki works as a dental hygienist and Mike is a corrections officer. They’ve been together for nine years.

“We are blessed,” Mike said.

“It’s just starting to sink in,” Nikki said, holding Josie as she slept soundly. “I can’t believe she fit in my belly.”

“She’s yours forever,” Clark said. “You’ll never not be a mom.”

Nikki and Mike’s moms attended the same high school in San Diego County, California, and brought their young families to Idaho in 1998. They didn’t know one another, but someday their families would be forever linked by New Year’s Day 2020.

The room sighed and looked at Josie. Her eyes were shut tight, like a slumbering wren. A dark wisp of hair fell across her forehead.

“She’s going to be educated and smart,” Nikki said. “We already have a college savings account started for her.”

“She’s going to be whatever she wants to be,” Jessica Kraft, Nikki’s big sister, said.

“You were such a champion, Nikki,” Clark said. “I was speechless for the entire labor.”

Nikki said she just did it, although she thought for a moment she couldn’t do it, that it was too hard.

“But you did,” Mike said, beaming. “You did it.”

“I have no words,” Kraft said, looking at her sister. “I’ve been overflowing with emotion all day. Nikki is my only sister. She’s an extension of my own soul.”

Kraft experienced empathy contractions throughout Nikki’s labor. Attending certified nurse midwife Sarah Kohal delivered Josie and said empathy contractions are totally normal.

“I’m a nurse myself,” Kraft said. “I’m used to guiding my patients and removing my own emotions. But with my sister, every guard is down. Anything she feels, I feel.”

Nikki’s water broke around 3 a.m. The family arrived at Kootenai Health shortly afterward. Clark remembered her own labor with Nikki.

“I labored mostly at home,” Clark said. “Nikki was born 17 minutes after we got to the hospital.”

Nikki’s own labor was pretty fast for a first baby, but everything happened in time.

“Now I just have to wait my 12 hours before we can go home,” Nikki said, ready to be cocooned at home with her new little family.

“I love how caring and passionate Nikki is about everything in life … especially Josie,” Mike said.

Josie cooed and the room giggled in awe.

“I love that she made me a mom,” Nikki said.