Rachel Houlihan

The holidays can be stressful for a lot of different reasons. For one, there are usually some awkward conversations with relatives you don't see very often. Well, John, John decided to take that awkwardness up a notch.

The holidays can be stressful for a lot of different reasons. For one, there are usually some awkward conversations with relatives you don't see very often. Well, John, John decided to take that awkwardness up a notch.

And not just for John.

And not just for John.

John's mom, Jenny Brennan, has the demeanor of a much-loved elementary teacher. I can't imagine her getting mad at the grade ones she teaches. And seeing her and John sitting together, I now know where John gets his bright blue eyes from.

John's mom, Jenny Brennan, has the demeanor of a much-loved elementary teacher. I can't imagine her getting mad at the grade ones she teaches. And seeing her and John sitting together, I now know where John gets his bright blue eyes from.

Whatever concerns were looming over the sudden new trajectory of John's life, or whether this fledgling couple could make it work, were pushed aside to make room for Jenny's first grandchild.

Whatever concerns were looming over the sudden new trajectory of John's life, or whether this fledgling couple could make it work, were pushed aside to make room for Jenny's first grandchild.

Yeah, we were all in. Everyone was all in. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, right down to co-workers.

Yeah, we were all in. Everyone was all in. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, right down to co-workers.

John sells his motorcycle and breaks his lease on the filthy frat house. He gets a job in pest control, working overtime to make ends meet. The money he had been saving since he was 13 years old is finally spent on a house and the young couple moves in together.

John sells his motorcycle and breaks his lease on the filthy frat house. He gets a job in pest control, working overtime to make ends meet. The money he had been saving since he was 13 years old is finally spent on a house and the young couple moves in together.

It's a starter home with a huge yard and a window over the kitchen sink, the kind where you can do dishes while keeping an eye on kids playing outside. And one of the three bedrooms is already painted blue. A bit of good luck, because they're expecting a boy.

It's a starter home with a huge yard and a window over the kitchen sink, the kind where you can do dishes while keeping an eye on kids playing outside. And one of the three bedrooms is already painted blue. A bit of good luck, because they're expecting a boy.

The birth, on May 2, 2016, doesn't play out like the cliched movie scene John had hoped. But it has its moments.

The birth, on May 2, 2016, doesn't play out like the cliched movie scene John had hoped. But it has its moments.

The labor was rough, though. And immediately after the baby is born, the mother is taken away for some extra medical attention.

The labor was rough, though. And immediately after the baby is born, the mother is taken away for some extra medical attention.

John's overwhelmed, but his attention quickly turns to his newborn, Travis.

John's overwhelmed, but his attention quickly turns to his newborn, Travis.