Grand Forks welcomed its first newborn baby early Wednesday morning.
Briana and Malcolm Hamilton were resting comfortably hours later at the Altru Health System hospital with Layla Rose, the newest member of their young family.
"She's perfect," Briana Hamilton said holding the content 6-pound, 5.7-ounce Layla, who was born at 2:51 a.m. She said she was hoping to have a daughter to go along with their 18-month-old son, Gianni.
Malcolm Hamilton said the toddler met her new sister Wednesday. He said he wasn't sure if he was excited to have a sibling, and considering how young he is, he may not have fully understood the news.
But, he added: "He would poke (Briana's) stomach and say, 'Sissy.'"
ADVERTISEMENT
Briana and Malcolm moved here in 2011 from Shreveport, La. Malcolm Hamilton is in the U.S. Air Force.
Mayor Mike Brown, an obstetrician at Altru, delivered the first baby of the new year, said Kathy Pavlish, a registered nurse there. She said businesses donate gifts and staff help welcome the new baby every year.
"It's just a celebration," she said.
It was nearly a record for deliveries at Altru in 2013. There were 1,648 deliveries, with 19 sets of twins, according to an unofficial tally by hospital staff. In 2012, there were 1,655 deliveries.
There were two deliveries so far in 2014 as of Wednesday afternoon, with two more hoping to welcome New Year's Day babies.
"I wanted to tell the dad to enter the lottery," Pavlish said. "But it probably already feels like he's won the lottery."
Call Hageman at (701) 780-1244, (800) 477-6572 ext. 1244 or send email to jhageman@gfherald.com .
