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Area's First 2002 Baby Clocks In at 12:02 AM
GWU Hospital Gets Bragging Rights
By Michael Tunison
Melanie and Justin Jones expected their first child in time for Christmas, but their baby waited out the holiday and the rest of 2007, plus two minutes.
The couple welcomed Stella Inez Jones -- all 8 pounds 10 ounces of her -- into the world at 12:02 a.m. yesterday at George Washington University Hospital, making her the first baby born in 2008 in the Washington area, as reported by the region's major hospitals.
"Everybody was telling me to hold on, saying she could be one of the first born on New Year's Day. I couldn't think about that, really. I just wanted to get her out," Melanie Jones said from her hospital bed yesterday afternoon.
She went into labor about 4 a.m. Monday.
She spent yesterday resting in her room with Stella and her husband, as well as one of her three sisters, Michelle Veilleux, who is expecting her third child Jan. 19, and Michelle's husband, Jason.
Justin Jones was cradling Stella yesterday afternoon, jokingly wishing that the hospital provided rocking chairs.
"We'll probably be able to check out Thursday morning. She doesn't want to hang out here anymore," he said softly of Stella as she slept.
The Joneses, who live in Columbia Heights, are natives of the region. Melanie grew up in La Plata and Justin in Rawley Springs, Va. Melanie, 26, is the owner of Urban Style Lab, a hair salon in Dupont Circle. Justin, 28, is a songwriter and in the band Justin Jones & the Driving Rain.
The hospital staff at George Washington was excited to have the rare chance to deliver the area's first child of the year.
"I've been here more than 20 years, and this is the first time that GW has had the New Year's baby," said Therese Parillo, a nursing supervisor at the hospital. "Usually, it's Suburban or one of those other ones that sneak in front of us."
For babies whose births coincide with the changing of the calendar, there's a financial interest for parents: Children born before Jan. 1 can be declared as dependents on 2007 tax filings. A nursing staff member at Inova Alexandria Hospital said a mother decided to deliver 15 minutes before midnight to make that deadline. But, she added, the safety of the child is always the primary concern.
"People were saying to me that if she arrived before midnight, we could get the tax deduction, but if not, she could be a New Year's baby," Melanie Jones said. "To me, it didn't matter either way. I'm just glad that she's here."
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