Published: January 06, 2009 01:29 pm      

Rush delivery nets New Year's baby

Aurelia Memphis Hale arrives early to become first of the year in London

Aurelia Memphis Hale entered the world a week and a half early to become Laurel County’s New Year’s baby.

She was born at 1:55 a.m. at Saint Joseph-London to Sarah and Chris Hale of east KY 80. Sarah, who turns 25 today, was almost a New Year’s baby. Aurelia Memphis weighs 6 pounds, 1 ounce and is 20 inches long.

“We weren’t expecting a New Year’s baby,” Sarah said. “She was not due until Jan. 12. I was having pains all day New Year’s Eve, but I thought they were false. New Year’s Eve came and went and about 12:20 a.m. I had a hard contraction. We got to the hospital at 12:40 and I had her about an hour later. They didn’t even have time to give me an epidermal.”

Aurelia Memphis joins her sister, 15-month old Abigail Elizabeth, and a stepbrother, 5-year-old Nathanyal Collins.

“I’m very proud of my wife and so excited to meet my new girl,” 27-year-old Chris said as he was opening gifts. “This is just like Christmas.”

The parents and baby received more than 100 gifts from local merchants and Saint Joseph-London, including a big red Radio Flyer wagon with backs on the seats and seat belts, a Humpty Dumpty figurine, a baby cake made of rolled up diapers, a magnet immunization chart, baby books in a case, banks, a $100 savings bond, pizza, gym, and grocery gift cards; a free message, and the necessities, such as lotion, wipes and baby clothes.

“This is just too much,” Sarah said. “It’s such a blessing.”

“All the children will be playing with the wagon,” she added.

Sarah is employed by Vangent Call Center in Corbin and Chris has an online business and is currently working out of town in construction.

Staff writer Carol Mills can be reached at cmills@sentinel-echo.com.