|
Yesenia Gonzales kisses her daughter, Abby Mariel Hunter, at Pioneers Memorial Hospital on Tuesday. Abby arrived at 1:39 a.m. on New Year's Day. (JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO / January 1, 2013) |
BRAWLEY — Never expecting she would be in labor on New Year’s Eve, Brawley native Yesenia Gonzales was pleasantly surprised to discover her newborn daughter was Imperial Valley’s first baby of the new year.
“I thought she was going to come out a little afterwards, but once she did they told us she was the New Year’s baby and we got really excited,” Gonzales said.
Abby Mariel Hunter was delivered at 1:39 a.m. Tuesday at Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley, weighing in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces.
Abby’s father, Quincy Hunter, recalled having been so excited to have his first child he nearly passed out.
“I was holding to the handlebar (on the bed frame) for balance when she was pushing, then I caught myself and let go of the bar to help,” Hunter said.
Having had three kids of her own, Gonzales stayed calm, collected and a little nervous throughout the process.
“I felt excited, like, ‘Yes, finally the day has come,’ but then I got a little nervous because I thought, ‘What if I forget how to do everything?’,” Gonzales said.
Following the delivery, the family received an assortment of baby supplies, a bassinet and flowers as a congratulatory gift from Pioneers Memorial Hospital.
Having both been born in Pioneers, Abby’s parents were surprised to have received their New Year’s gift in the same place they were born.
“It just feels like we are a family now,” Gonzales said. “
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at calvarez@ivpressonline.com
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
