New Year’s baby debuts early
Boy arrives three minutes after midnight
With a Jan. 9 due date, Micah Jay Warholik was set to make his entrance into the world almost 13,000 minutes into 2014.
Instead, the wee babe was born at Foothills Medical Centre on New Year’s Day, just three minutes after the new year rang in.
The dramatic timing made little Micah the first baby born in Calgary this year.
“They told me I was probably going to have the New Year’s baby, and I didn’t believe them because last time I had my baby it took two hours of pushing, (but) 17, 18 minutes later, he was out,” said Micah’s mom, Valentene Warholik, 30, who called her baby’s birth “a really beautiful delivery.”
Tiny fist curled under his chin, Micah snoozed his way through his brush with celebrity at the hospital on Wednesday, unaware of the cameras and microphones turned his way as he snuggled with his mother.
The baby boy is Valentene and Cory Warholik’s second child, after Jax was born about two years ago.
The Airdrie couple had planned to spend New Year’s Eve at home with Jax, watching movies and ordering takeout.
Instead, in a visit to the doctor on Dec. 30, the expectant mother learned her pregnancy would be induced, and soon.
By midday on Dec. 31, the Warholiks arrived at Foothills Medical Centre.
At about 11:45 p.m., it was time to push.
After a longer labour with Jax, Valentene said she was hoping for a smooth delivery with Micah — but also crossing her fingers the new little one could hold off at least until the new year to sidestep a holiday birthday.
“I just didn’t want him born on New Year’s Eve,” she said.
“I was just happy that even though it was three minutes, it was still into the next day.”
At 12:03 a.m., Micah was born, weighing seven pounds, 11 ounces.
The “very mellow little guy” is a ringer for his mom, while older brother Jax looks just like his dad, Valentene said.
“He’s got a very sweet character already,” his mother said.