It took less than an hour for a Cape Coral family to have the first baby in the New Year after Cheyenne Smith gave birth to a healthy baby girl not long after the ball dropped.
Rowan White was born in HealthPark in Fort Myers at 12:49 a.m. and weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces. It is Smith’s third child and first daughter. She has two sons, age 8 and 2.
Smith, who spoke with her new baby sleeping in her arms, said the birth was a bit of a surprise.
“The due date was the 14th but she decided to make her entrance early and get all the attention,” Smith said. “I’m very happy and excited and she’s absolutely adorable. She came out crying, with 10 fingers and 10 toes, perfect.”
Her husband and the older son have always wanted a little girl, Smith said. The little brother is still a little too young to comprehend.
“The older brother has been waiting for a sister for years, so he’s so excited. He’s a nurturer so I know he’ll do great,” Smith said, who added she doesn’t expect any more children after this. “The 2-year-old will have to adjust.”
Smith said there are great advantages to being born on New Year’s Day.
“Now, she’ll get to celebrate her birthday with fireworks. It’ll be exciting for her to think everyone is celebrating her,” Smith said. “As far as holiday birthdays go, it’s not Christmas and people don’t like to share Christmas. She gets to have fireworks and celebrations for her birthday.”
As for births at Cape Coral Hospital, Pat Dolce, Communications Traffic Project Manager for Marketing and Communications for Lee Health, said there isn’t a birth due at Cape Coral Hospital in the immediate future.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com