Dad caught the biggest pass of his life

Seahawk Malcolm Smith might have caught the tipped ball in Sunday’s NFC championship playoff, but it’s nothing compared to this Everett dad’s interception on game day.

Nathaniel Pinson caught the baby.

His catch was in the bedroom of his apartment. He intercepted his baby daughter’s debut into the world before passing her over to his wife, Michelle, and the midwives.

Adie Ruth Pinson was born in the same quarter as the Seahawk linebacker’s clinching play on the field.

Michelle was clinching as well, but she pushed out the 8.4 pound girl without a fumble after a 23-hour labor.

The baby’s first cries came around the same time as the tsunami of cheers and screams from Seahawks fans that resounded through the apartment complex.

“She’s ‘The 12th Baby,’” Nathaniel said.

Maybe so, but she’s the first baby for the couple, both 21. Nathaniel, the lot manager at Three Rivers Marine in Woodinville, and Michelle, a title assistant at Rainier Title in Everett, were high school sweethearts.

Nathaniel cut his football career short at Sultan High School to prepare for their marriage two weeks after graduation.

“He was going to be captain his senior year,” Michelle said, “but instead he worked so we could get married.”

Little did he know his best play would be on game day in the bedroom.

“The biggest catch I’ve ever done is Adie,” he said. “Catching your own baby is 100 times more exciting than catching a football.”

Adie arrived 11 days late. Michelle’s labor was easy enough the first 20 hours before the wicked contraction stuff started around kickoff time.

“Three hours of heavy pushing,” she said.

Three midwives were by her side. So was her husband.

No, he didn’t watch the game on the living room TV, where the rest of the family members huddled.

“There were a couple times I had to come out here and get water or whatever,” he said. “I saw the score, but it wasn’t intentional. I could never live with myself if I left my wife in agony to get the score.”

For real.

It was tempting to give the baby girl a name commemorating the game, but instead she got a nickname: “Little Hawk.”

That will stick with her for life.

“Little Hawk” has lots of pink outfits, but these will have to wait until at least after the Super Bowl.

“Blue and green are her colors now,” Michelle said.

Andrea Brown; 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.