Lehigh Valley Health Network only had to wait 11 minutes for its first Lehigh Valley baby of 2026, while the St. Luke’s University Health Network welcomed its first New Year’s arrival an hour later at 1:11 a.m.
Born 11 minutes after midnight at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Isabella Mia Bourdier-Corneil weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 21 inches in length.
Parents Carissa Corneil and Victor Caraballo-Bourdier of Zionsville were the first family within the Jefferson Health Lehigh Valley network to welcome a 2026 baby, with four other local families celebrating arrivals between midnight and 4 a.m.
Ja’coby Asher Roberson arrived at 1:11 a.m. at St. Luke’s-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. Parents Kobie Smith and Brian Roberson celebrated the birth of their son, who weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 21 inches in length.
While the family had been anticipating a New Year’s birth, they didn’t expect their first child’s time of birth to echo the month and day.
“Due date was actually Jan. 1st, so it was kind of perfect,” Smith said of the 1:11 a.m. birth on 1/1.
Being a new mother is a blessing, Smith said.
“I’m just grateful for the whole process,” Smith said, “and for everything — for him being healthy, and me also being healthy and him being the first baby of 2026.”
After the early morning birth and a photo shoot, the family is resting and recuperating, St. Luke’s spokesperson Wendy Kaiser said.
“We’re excited for the family,” Kaiser said.
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