First 2013 Baby Born | Video

Amy Fox | 1/1/2013

Many people have been celebrating the start of 2013 with parties and resolutions. But for some, they`re celebrating the gift of life. Parents always hope their baby is born on their due date. But sometimes the baby has a mind of their own. And in Chrystyna Mercer`s case, this time, it worked to her advantage. At 10:38 pm, December 31, 2012, Mercer gave birth to her baby girl, River.

"I was hoping to avoid the holidays, the actual dates, because I wanted her to have her own birthday,” said Mercer. “So everything really worked out well. I didn`t want her on Christmas or our wedding anniversary, the 27th, so I didn`t want that and New Years, again, it`s a holiday. So, I wanted by the holiday celebrations in mind being that she was being born around this time anyway, so she`s pretty special."

While River was the last baby born in 2012, just down the hall, baby Allana was born, just an hour and a half later.

"We were due New Years Day,” said mother, Mindy Dicken. “We actually have the baby that day. I guess it`s pretty low chances, much less be the first one of the day."

"It was kind of cool. We just wanted a healthy baby to be born when she was ready and it just so happens she was ready on her due date," said father, David Dicken.

David said Allana is already picking up some of his positive traits. "She`s got my stubbornness and my punctuality as well. I was born on my due date as well."

After a couple of tough years, including losing their home in the flood and job shortcomings, at seven pounds, nine ounces, Allana is a little of bundle of joy the couple needed.

"We`ve just kind of had a thing after the next kind of year. And, so this hopefully marks the beginning of something new for us," Mindy said.

The Dicken family hopes the joy of Allana`s birth will continue throughout the New Year. "She`s a real blessing to us,” said David. “I hope that that blessing and feels like that blessing is going to carry us through the next year and see where we get to."

River and Allana both received gift baskets from the Trinity Health Auxiliary. The baskets include stuffed animals, blankets and keepsake albums.

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