Welcome Dalton, Aya, Lucia, Avanthika, Liam, Elias, James, Axel, Eliza, Joe, Zuri and Salice.
More than 100,000 babies are born in New Jersey’s 51 birthing hospitals every year.
But these little ones were among the first to arrive in 2019, according to hospital announcements.
And for that – and the joy they bring us just gazing at their sweet faces – their birthday should be celebrated.
This is by no means a complete list of all New Year’s babies in New Jersey. Some hospitals withheld names and other identifying information at the families’ request. Other babies and their parents weren’t ready for the attention that comes with a Jan. 1 arrival.
But this should add an extra dash of happy to everyone’s New Year.
Dalton AKA “Tank”
Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mt. Holly
Dalton AKA “Tank”
New Jersey’s first baby of 2019 wasted no time earning a nickname.
Weighing nine pounds, 12 ounces and measuring just over 21 inches long, Dalton’s family also calls him “Tank.”
He was born at 12:30 a.m. at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mt. Holly.
His family resides in Washington Township.
Aya, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Morristown Medical Center
Aya, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Aya McCurty was born at 12:31 a.m. after 21 hours of labor at Morristown Medical Center.
She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces.
She is the first child for Isra Zughbi and Joshua McCurty of Dover.
“I just fell in love with her. I can’t believe she is mine,” Zughbi said.
Lucia, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Lucia, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
And Lucia makes four.
Alex and Josephine Cardillo of Paramus and their 4-year-old daughter Chiara welcomed Lucia to their family at 12:32 a.m.
She was delivered at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long.
Avanthika, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Hackensack University Medical Center
Avanthika, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Her name means “princess.”
Avanthika, the first child of Ananth Vijaykumar and Poornima Govardhan of Fair Lawn, arrived at 12:34 a.m.
“We feel very fortunate that her birthday will always be so special. Even the time she was born, 1-2-3-4 is special,” said the baby’s father.
Avanthika arrived two weeks before her due date. She was delivered by Manpreet Mann, attending physician at the Donna Sanzari Women’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Liam, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Community Medical Center
Liam, one of New Jersey’s first babies of 2019
Brittany Distaso and Community Medical Center delivered her son, Liam Maglio at 1:12 a.m.
He weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
The family lives in Point Pleasant Borough.
