Welcome to 2013: First New Year's baby born

The new year is a time of new beginnings, and for Jacob and Ashley Goodin of Bloomfield, Mo., it was especially memorable as their first daughter, Finley Elizabeth Goodin, was the first baby born in 2013 in Cape Girardeau.

Finley was born at 4:40 a.m. at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20 and a half inches long.

"I'm happy she's healthy," said Jacob Goodin. "I'm pretty proud."

The Goodins were not expecting a New Year's baby. Their original due date was Dec. 30.

"We could have had her at any time," said Jacob Goodin. "We thought she [Ashley] would follow her mother. Ashley's mom had her two weeks early."

The Goodins arrived at the hospital at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Ashley Goodin said having the first baby of the new year, "made New Year's special."

"It will be an easy birthday for Jacob to remember," she said.

The Goodins settled on Finley's name early. She takes Jacob Goodin's grandmother's maiden name; and her middle name, Elizabeth, comes from one of Jacob Goodin's cousins. Jacob Goodin said he liked how a feminine name like Elizabeth offsets the neutrality of Finley.

Ashley Goodin said when she asked her husband if he wanted a boy or girl he said, "There are two options, either a boy or a tomboy,"

Ashley Goodin said Finley will grow up on the family cattle farm.

"She'll have bows in her hair and boots on her feet," she said.

Ashley Goodin is the daughter of Ron Davis of Sikeston, Mo.

According to Davis, his daughter herself was a bit of a tomboy.

"Ashley always followed me around. We would always have snowball fights," he said.

The Goodins said they felt Finley's birth was special, regardless of when it happened.

"Today was perfect, the way it happened," said Jacob Goodin. "I feel really proud. It's an amazing thing to have a child, and it's special one way or another."

Jacob Goodin works for a farm machinery auction company. He also is a farmer and raises cattle. Jacob Goodin is the son of Arthur and Sarah Goodin of Bloomfield.

"First, last or in between, it would have been OK," said Arthur Goodin in regards to being the first grandparents of the year.

"There's a special place in heaven for the man who invented the epidural," Jacob Goodin added.

Andrew and Tafawny Vanek of Jackson welcomed the first baby born at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Their first son, Hunter Glen, was born at 5:06 a.m. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 and three-fourths inches long.

"We are extremely excited," Andrew Vanek said. "He is the first boy and gets to carry on the Vanek name."

Hunter was due on Saturday, Andrew Vanek said, but they thought Hunter was going to be a New Year's Eve baby because Tafawny Vanek went into labor on Dec. 30.

Tafawny Vanek said Hunter was a name they decided on, and Glen was her grandfather's name.

"We're happy to experience this together," Andrew Vanek said. "It's a huge life milestone. He's welcomed and loved by his parents and we're extremely happy."

apicar@semissourian.com

388-3648

"I'm glad she's healthy," said Davis.

Davis said this was the first snowfall he and his daughter had not engaged in one.