In an area of older demographics, New Year's Babies often come late to Oceanside, but this year's hounoree was a week early, at least according to her scheduled arrival.
Jennifer and Chris Murray welcomed their second daughter Ava to the family at 7:03 p.m., January 2 at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Weighing in at eight pounds, six ounces at birth, Jennifer said Ava is proving to be a very quiet and easy baby.
They said, other than coming a week early, the birth of the first Oceanside member of Grad'29 was pretty routine.
Chris, an electrician who commutes to work in Fort St. John, said they were surprised to hear they had the New Year's Baby, the first born in a hospital to Oceanside parents, but in recent years that has come as late as January 9.
Jennifer, 30, and Chris, 34, both graduated from Ballenas Secondary and have moved in and out of the area a few times since, most recently moving back to Parksville in November.
Ava's two and a half-year-old big sister Sophia, described as very independent, said before the birth that she would rather have a kid, not a baby, but has been getting used to the idea, her parents said.
The News congratulates the new parents.