> At a Glance
> – Markie Smith’s third child, Canyon Cooper, arrived at 12 lb 10.5 oz – just shy of 13 pounds
> – Doctors gasped “Oh, my God” when they lifted him in the Arlington Memorial OR
> – Gestational diabetes and a nature-themed sibling set (Meadow, Forest) set the stage
> – Why it matters: A Christmas-Eve NICU discharge shows how unexpected birth stories become community celebrations
A routine C-section at Arlington Memorial Hospital turned into an operating-room sensation when Markie Smith, 35, met her not-so-little surprise on December 18.
The Moment They Saw Him
Smith’s best friend delivered the first verdict:
> “Girl, he’s huge.”
Medical staff echoed the shock. Smith recalls:
> “There was this gasp and everyone just went, ‘Oh, my God,’ all at once.”
Weighing 12 pounds 10.5 ounces, Canyon dwarfed the 6-9 pound average cited by the American Pregnancy Association.
A Name That Fit the Landscape
- Canyon’s rolls upon rolls reminded Smith of the Michelin Man
- Family nicknames followed fast: “the Grand Canyon” and “Super Cooper”
- Older siblings Meadow, 9, and Forest, 4, kept the nature theme intact
Smith, owner of a dog grooming and training business, calls the choice instinctive:
> “Canyon is the perfect name for him.”
NICU Stay & Christmas Miracle
After a week in the NICU learning to breathe on his own, Canyon went home on Christmas Eve.
| Metric | Canyon | Typical Full-Term |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 12 lb 10.5 oz | 6-9 lb |
| Delivery | C-section | Varies |
| NICU Stay | 7 days | Often none |
Smith’s takeaway:
> “He’s the happiest, easiest baby.”
Key Takeaways
- Gestational diabetes can yield surprise macrosomia, even after smaller siblings
- A nature-themed naming scheme can still allow for unexpected size jokes
- Christmas-Eve discharge turned a medical surprise into a holiday story the family will retell forever
One Arlington delivery room, one giant baby, one perfect name: Canyon Cooper made an entrance no one will forget.
