Miranda and Jordan Hastings began 2025 with a joyous milestone—the birth of their sixth child, Holly Jill, born at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day. For the couple, who have been married for 15 years, Holly’s arrival represents not only the continuation of their dream for a big family but also a testament to resilience, faith, and gratitude.
“I went to school thinking that I wanted to be something else,” Miranda said. “I graduated from BYU, and the biggest thing I wanted to be was a mom.”
The Hastings’ love story began on a blind date at Brigham Young University (BYU). After graduating, the couple embarked on an adventure, moving to Brazil and China before settling back in the U.S. Miranda, an Air Force kid, was used to uprooting her life and embraced the experience. “I come from an Air Force family,” she shared. “I was up for an adventure.”
Jordan, described by his wife as a country boy from a tiny town in southern Utah, brought his love for the outdoors and hands-on work to their life together. After several moves and career changes, the couple established a roofing business in California and settled on a hobby farm in Corralitos, raising their six children among cows, chickens, and horses.
“Our life now is more than I could ever have dreamed of,” Miranda said, reflecting on the joy of living in the countryside and nurturing a big family.
While their family has flourished, the road to parenthood wasn’t always smooth. Miranda’s struggles with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis created challenges with infertility.
“I don’t have the easiest of pregnancies,” she admitted. “But I’m really lucky that I can get pregnant.”
After a three-to-four-year stretch of difficulty conceiving, Miranda sought care from Dr. Laetitia Oderman, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Sutter Health.
“Dr. Oderman helped us achieve our dream of a big family,” Miranda said. “We were blessed with four more children after we worked through the challenges.”
“It was an honor to support Miranda and help care for her during her pregnancies,” Dr. Oderman said. “Miranda is an amazing mom and an example for others that face similar challenges. I feel so lucky to know her and I look forward to seeing her family continue to grow.”
Their New Year’s baby, Holly Jill, shares the same sweet demeanor and resemblance to her three older sisters. Miranda described Holly as “a really fun, sweet personality. She’s not very loud—at least not yet.”
Holly’s arrival also brought a unique delivery experience.
“I thought it would either be super-fast like my last baby or take 16 hours like some of the others,” Miranda said. “I went in, and my regular doctor wasn’t there, but Dr. Rachel Rider stepped in.”
Dr. Rider’s humor and expertise kept the atmosphere light, even as Miranda faced an unpredictable labor.
“Miranda was a joy to meet, but I didn’t expect her labor to be the event of the year!” Dr. Rider, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Sutter Health said. “Being there to welcome her sixth baby was a privilege for me and a wonderful reminder of why I love this work.”
Adding to the festive mood, the delivery team donned Happy New Year hats and glow necklaces, creating a celebratory atmosphere. “Every time I woke up, my nurse would be wearing different New Year’s gear,” Miranda recalled with a laugh.
For Miranda, the privilege of motherhood is a dream come true. “My family is my number one priority, my biggest blessing,” she said. “I don’t know what I would do without them. This is why I’m alive.”
With Holly now home on the family’s hobby farm, the Hastings are ready to embrace the blessings—and adventures—that 2025 will bring.
