First babies of the new decade

The first day of 2010 will be memorable for an extra-special reason for at least two families.

With their baby due today, it was meant to be a relaxed New Year's Eve for one Wellington family.

"It was always going to be a quiet night," Wendy Christall said from Kenepuru Hospital yesterday.

But baby Liam Livingston had different ideas. While the rest of the country was singing Auld Lang Syne, the strike of midnight saw Ms Christall and Steven Livingston rushing to hospital.

"We were a bit concerned actually, when we were driving in, that we would get caught up in a traffic stop," Mr Livingston said.

Liam was born at 2.52pm, weighing 4.46 kilograms.

The proud parents said they were surprised to learn he was Wellington's first baby of the new decade, given how far after midnight he was born. But it would be something for him to look back on once he grew up a bit.

Mr Livingston said the family had made sure to buy the newspaper for Liam's sisters – 2½-year-old twins Ella and Lily – when they were born, so they would be able to see what made news that day.

"This has the added bonus of potentially him being part of the news."

Liam's gender was a mystery until the birth, but the name – if the baby was a boy – had already been picked out, linking to Mr Livingston's Scottish heritage. Liam is a Scottish derivative of William.

They were a little concerned that Liam's birthday could be overshadowed by holiday celebrations in years to come, he said.

"It won't," Ms Christall said adamantly.

They had already decided he would get a separate birthday party with friends before everyone went away for Christmas.

Mr Livingston agreed, and said the actual day would always be special too. "Every year you're guaranteed a celebration.

But for now they were just enjoying their new son. "He's just a little bubba, quite perfect really," Ms Christall said.

Meanwhile, the first South Island baby of the decade came into the world just 40 minutes after midnight.

Demanda Arps gave birth to her first-born, Sophie, at 12.39am on New Year's Day in Christchurch Women's Hospital. Sophie weighed in at a healthy 3.18 kilograms.

However, Arps certainly was not planning on a new-year birth.

"Sophie made the decision," said Arps, who went into labour at 1.30pm on New Year's Eve.

Her partner, Regan Clucas, who was present for the birth, was just relieved his daughter was fine.

Arps, a former jockey, was still riding during the first seven months of her pregnancy.

She is looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

"I can't wait to go riding. I want to be back as soon as possible."

 Arps said her pregnancy was surprisingly easy.

"Sophie is very good so far. She sleeps through other babies crying and everything."

Arps said she would not have any trouble remember her daughter's birthday.

"That's what my friends keep texting me," she said.

The unofficial first New Zealand baby is thought to be Cameron, born in North Shore Hospital at 12.16am weighing 3.345kg.

His parents did not want to be identified.

- The Dominion Post and The Press