New Year's babies celebrate first month
New Year's babies celebrate first month
Sunderia Steptoe, Kentyra Richard and Kevin Joseph, and Latrinda Sanford deliver South Louisiana's first babies of 2023
HAMMOND-—Not long into the new year, Sunderia Steptoe of Amite celebrated the arrival of not one but two New Year’s babies.
At 3:19 a.m. on New Year’s Day, baby girl Amira Washington was born; one minute later, her twin brother Amir Washington was born. The twins share the title of “Baby New Year 2023” as the first babies born at North Oaks Medical Center in 2023.
Amira and Amir were originally due on January 4, but they decided to arrive four days early on January 1 to ring in the New Year with their family. The twins were delivered by Obstetrician/Gynecologist Kimberly Hodge, M.D. Amira weighed 4 lbs., 10.7 oz. with a length of 17 ½ inches, and Amir weighed 5 lbs., 1.4 oz., with a length of 17 ½ inches.
The North Oaks Women & Children Services team gathered to present the family with a double-sized welcome basket filled with baby care essentials and supplies, including: books, growth charts and receiving blankets; Lion lovies, rattlers, and booties; as well as hats knitted by North Oaks volunteers.
Steptoe is thrilled about the arrival of her double bundle of joy and was surrounded by loved ones to welcome them. She said, “It was a shock finding out we were having twins, but we were through the roof with excitement.
“It’s a blessing because we haven’t had twins in my mom’s family in 28 years. My mom had two sets of twins — a set of girls and a set of boys — and sadly, she lost them both. So, I feel like my brothers came back, and my sisters came back in my baby boy and girl,” Steptoe said.
When asked to reflect on her hopes for her babies’ futures, she said, “I wish for them to be healthy. And, I hope to instill in them to always keep God first in everything they do and take Him everywhere they go.”
Lafayette welcomes first chér bébé of 2023, Kyler Joseph
A baby boy, Kyler, rang in the new year just after midnight, born at 12:11 a.m., at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.
Weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 19 inches long, Kyler is the fourth child to parents Kentyra Richard and Kevin Joseph.
Koryn, 4; Kevia, 3; and Kyrin, 1 were excited to meet their new brother.
Sanford delivers first 2023 baby at Woman’s Hospital in BR
Autumn Sanford made her entrance in the world 16 minutes into 2023. She is the first baby born at Woman’s Hospital in this year — and appears to be the first born in Baton Rouge. Latrinda Sanford welcomed her baby girl at 12:16 a.m. Jan. 1, 2023. Autumn is 20 inches long and weighs 7 pounds 15 ounces. Mom and baby are both doing well.
