The Citrus Times always writes a story about the first baby born each year in Citrus County. Today, in addition to that story, we catch up with some recent ''first babies'' and see what they are doing.

1993

BABY: Samantha Jo Loop

THEN: Born at 7:36 p.m. Jan. 1 at Citrus Memorial Hospital.

NOW: Samantha, who just turned 10, is in fourth grade at Cypress Elementary School in New Port Richey. She plays soccer, sings in the school chorus and is an honor roll student.

MOM'S MEMORY: "When she was born I had no clue they did all that for the new year's baby. They kind of caught me off guard." -- Jennifer Reardon

* * *

1995

BABY: Rachel Elizabeth Hart

THEN: Born at 9:57 p.m. Jan. 1 at Citrus Memorial Hospital.

NOW: Rachel, who just turned 8, is taught at home. Her family lives at Fort Campbell, Ky., where dad Bob is a U.S. Army chaplain. She loves to read, draw and paint. She also enjoys gymnastics and dance, science and playing computer games.

MOM'S MEMORY: The parents got to the hospital at 3 or 4 a.m. Rachel wasn't born until nearly 10 p.m. "It was a very long day. We had football on. What else do you do on New Year's Day?" -- Diann Hart.

* * *

1998

BABY: Mikayle Frances Bertine

THEN: Born at 2:10 p.m. at Seven Rivers Community Hospital.

NOW: Mikayle, who just turned 5, attends dance class and the Treasure Chest preschool at Crystal River High School. She will start kindergarten in the fall.

MOM'S MEMORY: "It was joy and surprise. I never thought I'd have her on Jan. 1. . . . It was a neat experience to have the very first baby of the new year." -- Carrie Bertine

* * *

1999

BABY: Conner Joshua Keen

THEN: Born at 1:10 p.m. at Seven Rivers Community Hospital.

NOW: Conner, who just turned 4, knows his ABCs and numbers and is learning to write his name. "He loves the dirt. He loves to play outside," his mother says.

MOM'S MEMORY: On just holding her baby: "It still amazes me how this little thing came from me." -- Amanda Keen

* * *

2000

BABY: Brent Thomas Allan

THEN: Born at 3:12 a.m. at Citrus Memorial Hospital.

NOW: Brent, who just turned 3, likes to look at books and play games such as Candyland. He also likes sports. He and his family live in Crystal River.

MOM'S MEMORY: Ron and Tammy Allan didn't know the sex of this baby, their fourth. It turned out to be a boy, just like the previous three.

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