Laila Alayna Abdel-Khaliq arrived six days early to become what is believed to be the first baby born in 2017 in Denver-area hospitals.
Little Laila was born at 12:03 a.m. on New Year’s Day to parents Lacey and Mikail Abdel-Khaliq of Aurora. She was born at Parker Adventist Hospital, where Lacey works in the laboratory.
“Laila means ‘of the night’ (in Arabic), which is the perfect fit because she came at night,” said Lacey Abdel-Khaliq, who arrived at the hospital around 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. “(Mikail) says she’s sassy.”
Because Mikail Abdel-Khaliq is also an employee, hospital workers gathered to celebrate the first baby of the year with the family with party hats and favors, sparkling apple cider and a chalkboard sign that read “Happy New Year 2017.”
Lacey Abdel-Khaliq said her expecting date was Jan. 7, and she began getting more excited Saturday night as contractions started. Giving birth to her new daughter — who weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces — went smoothly. But with contractions starting on New Year’s Eve, she hasn’t eaten much in the past day.
“But I made sure I had black-eyed peas for good luck,” said Lacey Abdel-Khaliq, who lives in Aurora. Her son, 4-year-old Mikail Jr., stayed home with his grandmother.
Laila Abdel-Khaliq, born with a full head of dark curls, arrived just before a baby boy at 12:05, born at Rose Medical Center in Denver. Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs had a baby girl born at 12:31 a.m.
