Nadine Freeman has been graced with her second New Year’s baby.
With Tylor Peet by her side, Freeman gave birth to Vernon’s first baby of 2014 at 10:32 a.m. Wednesday.
Grace Lynne Freeman-Peet is now the second baby of ‘firsts’ for the family.
“I have two New Year’s babies now,” smiled 33-year-old Freeman at her nine-year-old son Junior.
“Junior, my youngest, was born on the seventh and he was the New Year’s baby in Golden.”
But Grace’s arrival was a close call, as there were six mothers in labour New Year’s Day.
“It’s all luck,” said Peet, 41, who recalls some other parents being disappointed after learning their baby wasn’t the first of the year.
Grace wasn’t actually expected until Jan. 4, but made an early debut with a natural delivery with no complications.
“She was a three-minute baby,” laughed Peet of the quick delivery.
Despite a couple restless nights beforehand, her parents were thrilled to introduce their baby girl, weighing 7 lbs six ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long.
She is the fifth, and final, child in the combined family consisting of Freeman’s two boys, 12-year-old Josh and nine-year-old Junior, and Peet’s two children, 16-year-old Brooklyn and 13-year-old Braeden.
“She’s so tiny,” said Josh, as he got to meet his little sister for the first time Thursday.
And compared to her boys, weighing 8.4 and 8.9 at birth, Freeman agrees.
Being the first baby of 2014 in Vernon, Grace was adorned with flowers and gifts from the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Auxiliary.
Auxiliary president Kathy Pinder made the traditional presentation, which included a basket (donated by May Correale) overflowing with hand crafted gifts from knitting and craft groups, giftware from the hospital gift shop, a London Drugs gift certificate and flowers from the Vernon Square Safeway.
