MARION - Forgive Joshua David Donovan for sleeping late into the afternoon on New Year's Day. Because after all, the Christopher boy had a good excuse for nestling tightly in his blanket: He spent the wee hours of the morning preparing for his debut into the world.

Joshua, son of Shawn and Lacey Donovan, was born at 7:25 a.m. New Year's Day, making him the first baby to be born in the region this year, according to a check of obstetrics units at area hospitals. Donovan was one of six babies in the running for the unofficial title at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

With a due date of Jan. 9, the Donovans didn't expect the 7-pound, 5-ounce, 20-inch bundle of joy so soon, but "He was in a hurry," Lacey said. "Just like his father," who is a member of the Buckner fire and rescue department.

The Donovans had been asleep just a few hours after celebrating the arrival of the New Year, when baby Joshua first alerted them of his impending birth.

"I started getting contractions around 3 and we headed to the hospital a little after 5 a.m. The contractions really hit me hard on the drive over," Lacey said.

Delivery was swift, she said, and "much easier" than the birth of daughter, Selena, now 2. The differences between the two children are notable, she said.

"He's sleeping much more than she ever did," Lacey said. "She was up all the time. He's quiet and she was not. They're as opposite as they can be right now."

With one girl and one boy, Lacey said the family is complete.

"We're done. Definitely," she said.

Two hours after Donovan's birth, St. Mary's Good Samaritan in Mount Vernon celebrated its first delivery of the new year.

Callie Rae Miller, daughter of Charly Ditterline and Shane Miller of Carmi, was born at 9:20 a.m. New Year's Day.

Young Callie weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was 191/2 inches long.

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