Williams Lake’s New Year’s baby arrived at Cariboo Memorial Hospital on Jan. 2 at 4:01 a.m., weighing in at eight pounds, 7.5 ounces.
A second son for Deanne Guenette and Colin Sanford, and baby brother for Lucas Sanford, newborn Eli Justin Sanford was sleeping contently in his mom’s arms Tuesday morning at the hospital.
“He’s been sleeping for a while,” Guenette said, adding he’s really cute and quiet, and already eating and sleeping well.
The couple arrived at the hospital around 11 p.m. on Jan. 1.
The labour went well and quick, Guenette said.
Eli was due on Dec. 29, but decided he’d wait to be the New Year’s baby. Why not, considering most of the babies who were due in early January arrived in December, according to Guenette’s doctor.
Colin, who normally works nights at Williams Lake Plywood, already had the holiday weekend off, so he was home when the labour started.
“When I phoned my boss to let him know we’d had the baby, he gave me the rest of the week off so that’s pretty nice,” Colin said.
Guenette who works at Williams Lake Association for Community Living, will now enjoy a year maternity leave, which she said she’s really looking forward to.
“I like the baby stage and it all goes by so fast,” she said.
When the Tribune arrived at the hospital for an interview and to deliver a collection of gift certificates donated from local businesses as part of its Williams Lake’s First Baby of the New Year contest, Lucas had left to run some errands with his grandma.
However, he had already informed his dad he’s planning to teach his baby brother all about monster trucks and how to play baseball.
“Normally Lucas won’t get dressed for anyone, but when I told him we were coming to see mom and his baby brother at the hospital he was super excited and said, ‘all right,’” Colin explained.
As Guenette held Eli in her arms she said they are already noticing differences between him and Lucas.
He’s a pound bigger, for starts, and has darker hair and darker eyes.
“He looks like my dad,” Guenette said.