Babies welcome the New Year

The Flathead Valley’s New Year’s babies took their time arriving this year.

At Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Hunter James Perry entered the world at 3:06 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.

Proud parents are Amanda Moss and Jeff Perry. Hunter weighed 9 pounds, eight ounces, and was 21 inches long.

Hunter joins brother Blake, who turned 1-year-old on Jan. 2.

According to their parents both boys were born in the same room at the hospital, with the same doctor and at almost the same time — one year apart.

The family moved to Joplin last summer, but returned for Hunter’s birth.

“We had such a great delivery last time we came back,” said Amanda.

Last year Blake didn’t earn the baby New Year honor. So when Amanda went into the hospital last week she wasn’t expecting Hunter to be the first.

“We didn’t even think about it. Someone said if anybody else doesn’t come in (to the hospital) you’ll be first,” she said. “It’s pretty neat.”

Grandparents are Jim and Judy Perry, and Ralph and Cherie Moss. Great-grandparents are Jack and Vera Jarrett.

Meanwhile, at North Valley Hospital the first birth of the New Year was even later. Nicholas Haas was born at 5:26 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3 to parents Elisabeth Jolliff and Eric Haas of Eureka.

He weighed in at 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Don and Barbara Jolliff, and paternal grandparents are Greg  and Candace Haas.