A special connection
Scarlett Dawn Arsenault is third member of extended family to be born on Jan. 1
The first P.E.I. baby born in 2021 isn’t the first New Year’s Day baby in her family.
Scarlett Dawn Arsenault was born via C-section at 2:22 p.m. New Year’s Day at the Prince County Hospital. She weighed seven pounds, four ounces.
Born to Ashley Shaw and Rivard Arsenault from the Wellington area, Scarlett is taking after her great-aunt, Bonnie Shaw, born in 1976, as being the first baby of a new year in Prince Edward Island. Scarlett’s great-uncle Richard was also born on Jan. 1, said Ashley Shaw.
“Now, I don’t know if he was the first, but he was a New Year’s baby.”
Shaw had a planned C-section scheduled for Jan. 12, but Scarlett couldn’t seem to wait.
After entering recovery, Shaw found out Scarlett was the province’s first baby of 2021, she said.
“We were very shocked to find out she was the first baby born. I thought there would have been others already.”
The couple’s first child, Savannah, is staying with Shaw’s dad and step-mom. Savannah was able to meet her little sister later that night, said Shaw.
“She was so excited. She’s been waiting to be a big sister for a while.”
While the name Dawn is after Shaw’s sister, Scarlett is just a name the couple liked, she said.
“I heard it and I really liked it and then I started seeing it places, like in books, and it just kind of stuck after that.”
Janel and Jarrett Martin from Tignish also welcomed their second child on New Year’s Day at Prince County Hospital.
Having gone to the hospital around 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and being induced later that night, they thought they were in line to have the first baby of the year, said Janel.
“We thought she was going to be the first one, but oh well, she’s healthy. That’s all that matters.”
Emery Christine Martin was born at 8:53 p.m. after 12 hours of labour. She weighed eight pounds, two ounces.
Her older brother, Raymond Martin, will be two in April and Emery is a name the couple has been considering since he was born. Christine is after Jarrett’s mom.
Even though they weren’t the first, Janel was just thankful for the end of a long day and to welcome her new daughter, she said.
“At the end of it I was just happy it was done with. I was just happy she was safe and healthy and she was here.”