A Coronation couple came to Stettler last Tuesday to give birth to the first baby born in east-central Alberta in 2013.
Brody Donald McLean was born at 10:13 a.m. Tuesday, New Year’s Day, to Amber Buniak and Ryan McLean.
He weighed in at eight pounds and seven ounces at the Stettler Hospital and Care Centre.
“We weren’t sure if we would have the Christmas baby or New Year’s baby,” Amber said last Wednesday from her hospital room. “We were actually due on Dec. 20, so we were overdue.”
A brother for four-year-old Zoe and Mason, 20 months, the newborn is also a grandson for Don and Leanne McLean of Coronation and Joe and Lilly Buniak of Dapp.
“We never planned to have the New Year’s baby,” said Ryan, who raises race horses and, in the winter, also works as an electrician.
“Everyone in the family is really excited about this child.”
Amber’s sister, Rena Tiemstra of Wetaskiwin, was among the well-wishers at the Stettler hospital last week.
“I drove in the middle of the night to come here,” she said.
Amber’s other sister, Melissa Smith of Legal, also travelled to the region for a brief visit.
Some members of the extended family wanted the new baby to be a girl, because the father comes from a family of four sons and the mother has three older sisters and one younger brother.
“He surprised us,” Ryan said. “He’s a boy — we don’t get to choose.”
While the parents hadn’t fully decided to have more children, at least one of Amber’s sisters believes at least one more child is coming.
“She has always said she wants to have four,” Tiemstra said.
While expectant mothers in the area often go to hospital in Provost to deliver their children, the Coronation couple chose to go to Stettler, where Ryan’s sister, Holly McLean, works.