Citrus: 8-pound boy nods into 2001 logs

8-pound boy nods into 2001 logs

The county's first baby makes his debut with a cast of sisters, ages 4, 2 and 1. His parents didn't expect a New Year's Eve labor.

By BILL VARIAN

INVERNESS -- Citrus County's first baby of the new year wasted little time making his mark on the world.

Devin Michael Hunter announced his arrival with a newborn's scratchy cries at 12:01 a.m. Monday at Citrus Memorial Hospital to proud parents Jamie and Robert Hunter.

The child was delivered by Caesarean section, but it wasn't planned that way. The couple had placed gifts beneath the tree, including a camouflage nightgown, in anticipation of an earlier arrival.

"The plan was for around Christmas time," Hunter said.

Devin was actually due Jan. 7. But Ms. Hunter arrived at the hospital a little past 11 p.m. Sunday after going into labor.

Nurses checked Ms. Hunter, 21, and found Devin facing bottom first. The C-section was performed less than an hour later.

Maternity ward staff marked the successful delivery with the playing of Brahms' Lullaby ("Lullaby and good night . . ."), a hospital tradition after every child is born. Devin weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and measured 21 inches, the mother said.

Devin is Ms. Hunter's first boy, her biggest baby and the first delivered by C-section, in addition to being the first child of Citrus County's new year.

"I didn't mind if it was a girl or a boy, as long as it was just healthy," Ms. Hunter said. "It completes our family to have a boy.

Ms. Hunter has three girls, ages 4, 2 and 1, the youngest also with Robert Hunter. The couple are divorced, but are planning to get back together with the arrival of a new child. He works as a cook, and she plans to stay home with the children. They live in Hernando.

Both said they didn't give much thought to the notion that they might have the first child born in the new year.

"I was just thinking, "Oh, my gosh, give me drugs,' " said Ms. Hunter, saying she prefers natural delivery to the C-section.

"And (Robert) was like, "Yes, give her drugs.' "

Both were optimistic about the experiences that lie ahead for their newest child at the dawn of a new millennium.

Hunter, 20, said he hopes his boy is healthy, successful and gets to see more of the world than he has.

Ms. Hunter added that she hopes he's a good person.

"We want what every parent wants for their kids," she said. "We want the best."