As the countdown to the new year began at countless galas, parties and nightclubs, the measured heavy breathing of women in labor in metro-area hospitals marked a countdown of another sort.
Breathe, breathe. Push, push.
Who would be the first baby of the new year?
Three hospitals initially proclaimed victory in the baby-birthing race.
A photo finish, however, showed the winner was Julian Williams, an 8-pound, 11-ounce boy born at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette.
The proud parents were Scott Williams, 28, and Jessie Chavez, 27, of Northglenn.
“The nurses said, ‘Hold on just a couple more minutes, and you’ll have the New Year’s baby,”‘ Chavez said as she cradled Julian at the hospital Monday.
Other hospitals were quick to tout their New Year’s births – a little too quick, though.
Rose Medical Center of Denver wanted to claim first place with 6-pound, 9-ounce Naomi Hernandez, born at 12:09 a.m.
Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge put out a news release announcing the 12:19 a.m. birth of 7-pound, 14-ounce Nathaniel Laurent, the son of Nicole and Glenn Laurent.
The dueling news releases interrupted the New Year’s Day slumber of Kim Kobel, a spokeswoman at Exempla Good Samaritan. She had called area media outlets shortly after midnight to announce her hospital as the winner of the first baby of the new year.
Then the hospital staff woke her about 6:30 a.m. to alert her that another hospital was claiming first place and that news was being broadcast on a television station. Kobel came in at 7 a.m. to set the record straight with a news release.
Julian and his mother were blissfully resting early Monday afternoon.
“He’s real mellow,” said Jessie Chavez, looking down on the pink face of the newborn Julian. “He’s been sleeping all day.”
Staff writer Christopher N. Osher can be reached at 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com.
