First newborn arrives fashionably late

DEREK FLYNN

Oh baby! Happy parents Marlon Mullen and Shiralee McKoy with their day-old daughter, who was Marlborough's first baby for 2009

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Baby McKoy-Mullen is a star, albeit a blissfully unaware one.

The 3.63-kilogram (eight-pound) bundle of joy entered the world at 1pm on New Year's Day, taking the honour of being Marlborough's first baby for 2009.

Mother Shiralee McKoy said her wee girl who is yet to be named was very special.

"She's a star and she doesn't even know it. I think it's really cool that she was the first of the year," she said.

Proud dad Marlon Mullen said family and friends had told them they were excited the new addition had managed to hold on two days past her due date to become 2009's first.

So far the newborn was very placid, mum said.

"She's a good sleeper, she sleeps for ages then opens her eyes for a wee bit. She's peaceful.

"Hopefully she stays this way."

Ms McKoy's contractions began in the evening of the 31st, so New Year's Eve was a quiet affair for the Blenheim couple and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Taliyah.

The tired but happy mum said she woke up at 12.20am and realised she had missed the end of the old and the beginning of the new year, although she was not worried.

At 8.30am yesterday morning she went into Wairau Hospital's maternity unit.

As for a name for their new bundle, the couple said they were not sure yet, but hoped to decide when Ms McKoy and baby were released from hospital later today.

"We've got no idea [what to call her], but we were thinking maybe Harmony," she said.

"We had Taliyah's name all ready when she was born but we just haven't made a decision yet for this special one."

Baby McKoy-Mullen was not the first Kiwi kid born in 2009.

That honour fell to Max Arthur Honey, born at North Shore Hospital in Auckland at 12.07am.

Max narrowly beat a baby boy born to Wanaka woman Nicky Meissel in Dunedin Hospital at 12.12am.