Rachel Beck, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 4:00 pm
Linn County's first official birth of 2009 took place at 8:05 a.m. on Jan. 1 at the Lebanon Community Hospital.
Hannah Jane Nicholson, born to Heidiann and Dean Nicholson of Sweet Home, entered the world weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 21 inches long.
On Saturday, the girl did not yet have a name.
"We're down to two," Dean said Friday.
The family eventually settled on Hannah Jane.
Ultrasound results had led the parents to believe they were expecting a son, so that's what they had prepared for.
"We had boys' names because we thought she was going to be a boy," Heidiann said.
Hannah joins sisters Katie, 16, and Chelsea, 10.
Her New Year's Day arrival was a bit later than scheduled. Heidiann's original due date was a different holiday: Dec. 25.
"Actually, we wanted New Year's Eve," Dean said. "I wanted the tax deduction."
The family arrived at the hospital on the afternoon of Dec. 31 and returned home last Saturday. Dean is a manager for Safeway in Corvallis, and Heidiann is an assistant manager at Safeway in Hood River.
Paternal grandparents are Scott and Chu Nicholson of Sweet Home. Maternal grandparents are Bill and Gail Cumming of West Linn.
The birth was the first of 2009 in all of Linn County.
"It'd be nice to be the first one in the United States," Dean said.
But he was happy with his youngest daughter no matter when her birthday was.
"As long as they're healthy, it's all good," he said.