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Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker called watching his baby daughter, Aria, be delivered on Thursday was a "humbling experience."
Getting ready for her arrival, Baker knew his week -- preparing with his team for the playoffs, preparing with his wife for a child – would be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He ended up missing practice Thursday, but gained a new family member.
"Woke up in the morning, wife was a little nervous, so I had my parents, her mom was there. So we drove over to the hospital," Baker said. "She got real emotional. We got there, I told her, 'Everything gonna be OK.' And we're in there, got the procedure done, and baby girl came out healthy.
"Everything's happening just the way I want it. All I need now is a great win on Sunday against Green Bay and it'll make my week complete."
In some ways, Baker's week has been the culmination of many years of fighting his way from the practice squad to the team's active roster to becoming a playmaker on the defense.
"It's been a rollercoaster, but it's something I always plan for," Baker said. "I feel like it's been a plan of God to position me throughout these years. You know, I started out as a practice squad guy and just learning ropes. In order to be a leader you got to learn how to follow and the first few years of me playing in the league I was following the older guys -- Barry Cofield to Steven Bowen, watch huddles, professionals carried themselves on and off the field, and I was learning every year. When God said it was my time, it was this year, and I've just been able to take advantage of every opportunity that God has given me and I've been rolling."
Baker got lots of congratulations from his teammates and sent out a group text to the D-Line to relay the good news. His longtime friend and partner along the line Terrance Knighton tweeted out the first photo of Baker with Aria.
"Coach Gruden actually talked a little smack to me, told me the baby looks like my wife," Baker said. "I wanted that too, so it was pretty cool."
This week might be a little difficult for Baker to stay focused, but he knows the stakes at play on Sunday, and knows that FedExField is going to be extremely loud and rocking come Sunday.
"It's a great sign man," Baker said. "I call her my Super Bowl baby, so hopefully we make it all the way to the Super Bowl and she'll be my good luck charm."
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