As most locals were readying themselves to countdown to 2016, David and Kayla Bajic were rushing out of their Prince George home as Kayla’s contractions grew stronger.
David tossed a “Happy New Year” to his two-year-old daughter and her grandmother, minutes before midnight as they headed to University Hospital of Northern B.C.
Less than two hours later - at 1:25 a.m. - Ellie Marie Bajic earned the title of Prince George’s first baby for 2016.
She’s also the first baby born in the north, said proud papa David Bajic who was back home and resting with his wife Friday afternoon.
At the time, they weren’t thinking of the clock at all or the significance of the date.
“Honestly we weren’t really thinking of it that way. When my wife’s contractions started we just needed to go,” he said. “It does make it a little more special for us but our main focus is everything went smoothly.”
And smoothly it went. With the help of the same midwife who helped deliver their first daughter, Ellie was born weighing in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce.
“I always recommend to go with a midwife,” said Bajic, a civil engineer, given their great experience with the help.
The couple came into the hospital with a list of three names for the girl, but Bajic said when they looked at her they knew:
“She’s an Ellie.”
Once she was born, they realized that it was a new year to match their new baby.
“We were wishing everybody at the hospital a Happy New Year and we had a really good experience the staff at the hospital was really great.”
One of his favourite moments so far in Ellie’s short life was when her big sister first held the infant.
“We got a couple photos where she was sitting on the couch. when she realized this was her baby sister.”
