First baby born on New Year's Day

MOSES LAKE - The first baby of 2008 for Grant County was born at Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake to Heather Conrad.

Kelianne Lenai Swartz was born at 12:01 a.m. New Year's Day.

Conrad's labor was scheduled to be induced Jan. 2.

She was in labor for three hours.

Now, her daughter has a holiday birthday, she said.

"The date's a little different for her, but we'll get used to it," Conrad said.

Conrad's two-year-old daughter is excited about the birth and is helping out a lot, she said.

Staff in the hospital's obstetrician office presented Conrad with a basket of items in recognition of the birth.

Director Susan Scott said the basket included goodies such as hats and mittens knitted by staff, toys, lullaby CDs, books, T-shirts and gifts for mom.

Quincy Valley Medical Center in Quincy and Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata do not have birthing centers.

Adams County has apparently yet to deliver the county's first baby of 2008. No babies were born at Othello Community Hospital Tuesday or Wednesday.

According to hospital staff, Othello Community Hospital is the only Adams County hospital with a birthing center.