With a late-January due date, Amber and Alex Wilcox were completely surprised their son, Carter John Jess Wilcox, was born as the Comox Valley’s first baby of 2014.
“When we went into the hospital all the nurses were like, ‘Maybe you’ll have the first New Year Baby,’ and I’m like, ‘Is that what day it is?'” Amber recalled with a laugh.
Carter was due Jan. 21, but Amber woke up with contractions at 3 a.m. Dec. 31. Alex took her to St. Joseph’s General Hospital and, more than 25 hours later, Carter was born at 4:25 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1. He was born weighing six pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 19 and three-quarter inches, and though he came three weeks early, Carter is a healthy baby boy.
The couple brought Carter home from the hospital Thursday morning, and as they relaxed in their living room Thursday afternoon, Alex pointed out they nearly got to bring Carter home New Year’s Day. But, as his blood sugar had dropped a bit, medical staff wanted to ensure it stabilized before sending the family home.
“He’s happy and healthy, and that’s most important to us,” Amber added with a smile.
And, Alex chimed in, he’s also a very content baby.
“He’s super quiet; he’s hardly squawked at all,” grinned Alex.
The couple decided on the name Carter well before he was born, and Alex explained they “just heard it and liked it and it stuck.”
Carter’s two middle names, however, honour family members who have passed away.
“John is named after (Alex’s) Dad who passed away last year,” explained Amber. “Jess came from (Carter’s) sister (Jessica) who passed away four years ago from childhood cancer.”
The Wilcox family also includes six-year-old Lybbie and four-year-old Dylan. January births seem to be a common theme in the Wilcox household, as Lybbie will turn seven Jan. 8 and Dylan will turn five Jan. 30.
The Courtenay family moved here from Victoria about four years ago, looking for a slower life pace and a family-oriented town. Alex works as an auto mechanic at Courtenay Automotive Repair Centre, and Amber works as a daycare provider and is assistant manager at Chad’s West Coast Grill and Bar.
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
