The years keep flying by, and suddenly it is time to celebrate another birthday for our special Y2K Kid.

Can you believe that it has been 10 years since we worried that the technical world might fall apart as we welcomed in the new millennium in the year 2000.

Not only did we survive, but our inventive spirit has flourished with every day bringing new mind boggling adventures and technology of every kind.

At the very beginning of this new age, on Jan. 1, 2000, we embarked on a personal journey.

I waited with great anticipation to welcome the very first baby born into this world on the first day of the millennium.

It happened at exactly 12:01 a.m. that Josie Pett was born at Miami Valley Hospital. Josie has the honor of being the first baby of the millennium, born in Ohio, and one of the first in the nation.

Her parents, Jack and Ahndrea Pett of Miami Twp. allowed me to hold the baby in my arms later that day. 

And since then, along with Jim Bucher of WDTN-TV, Channel 2, Josie’s life and times have been documented here in your newspaper and on television.

Josie is now a fourth-grader, and according to her mom had a great school year. “She has gotten four A’s and 2 B’s in the last quarter of school. She works very hard,” Ahndrea said.

The newest thing in Josie’s life is her fast growing enthusiasm about all types of bugs. Her mother said she wants to “grow up and be an entomologist, a bug scientist.”

“I like the little bugs,” Josie said. “All kinds of bugs. I take care of an ant farm in my room, and I have a tank full of horseshoe crabs.”

She said her favorite Christmas gift this year was “a play dinosaur that tries to bite and spits water at you.”

Many of her interests are more mainstream and she loves to join friends at an indoor swimming pool and wants to join a swim team this year.

On New Year’s Eve, her birthday eve, Josie’s family, her parents and two sisters celebrated Josie’s 10th birthday just as the ball dropped in Times Square.

“We have a tradition,” the mother said. “We go outside and blow air horns, crack poppers, shoot silly string at each other and sing ‘happy birthday’ at the top of our lungs.”

Later in the day Josie and about 10 of her best friends went to the movies to see “Alvin and the Chipmonks, The Squeakquel”. Then they came home and celebrated with dinner and birthday cake — followed by an all night slumber party.

It is a pleasure to know Josie and her family as she grows up and is eternally discovering new marvels.

She loves life and everything around her from the little bugs and frogs to dogs and larger animals.

Happy birthday, Josie. Here’s to exciting, healthy and fun-filled experiences as you begin your second decade in this ever changing world.

Dale Huffman would like to hear your story suggestions. Contact him at dhuffman@daytondailynews.com or by phone at (937) 225-2272 or at 1611 S. Main St.,Dayton, 45409.