By Staff
FIRST BABY OF THE NEW YEAR n Diannae Campbell holds her newborn daughter, Denniah Nikole Campbell. Denniah was the first newborn in Meridian in 2001. Photo by Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Jan. 2, 2001
Hours after New Year's party goers finished their festive countdown to 2001, Denny and Diannae Campbell begin their own, which culminated with the birth of Meridian's first newborn of the year.
At 10:03 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, Denniah Nikole Campbell made her debut as the area's newest resident at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Denniah weighed in at 6 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 inches long at birth.
Diannae and her husband already have two sons, 5-year-old Adrian and 4-year-old Quinton.
As much as little Denniah signaled the beginning of a new year her mother said her arrival also signaled the completion of their family.
The area's first newborn had already had numerous visitors, according to Diannae. Denniah's grandparents, great-aunts and great-uncles and brothers had already paid her visits by this morning.
Unlike the birth of her two sons Diannae said Denniah was anxious to make her much anticipated debut.
Denniah's arrival as the first baby of 2001 was a little unexpected because her arrival date was supposed to be December 31.
The couple was surprised about how much attention and competition the birth of their daughter had.
Apparently winning the birth race does have its incentives though. Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center provided gift baskets of baby supplies and gift certificates to its health and fitness center for the mother of the last baby of 2000 and the mother of the first baby of 2001.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.