New Year's baby

Heath Springs couple have county's first child of 2011

By Reece Murphy of The Lancaster News

Laykin Ryleigh Sullivan’s arrival New Year’s Day came as somewhat of a surprise to her parents, Courtney and Chad Sullivan of Health Springs, since she wasn’t supposed to have been born until Tuesday. Instead, the little 7-pound, 9-ounce girl decided to come early – and in doing so became Lancaster County’s first baby of 2011. Laykin was born at 3 p.m. Saturday, the first of approximately 700 babies expected to be born at Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster this year.

Courtney Sullivan, who happens to work as a nurse in the hospital’s medical/surgical unit, said doctors were planning on inducing labor Tuesday. So, when she left work New Year’s Eve afternoon, everything was going according to plan. Until about 11:30 that night, that is.

“I kept feeling like something didn’t feel right,” she said. “I finally told Chad that even if we had to turn around and come home, I was going to the hospital.”

Chad Sullivan said he was equally incredulous since their last child’s birth had to be induced. But, still, better safe than sorry, he said.

“I thought, ‘OK, we’ll check it out and then come back home and get some sleep,’” he said. “A little while later I was more like, ‘Oh, Lord, we’re having a baby. Today.’’

Tiny, with a full head of thick black hair, Laykin was dressed in a brown bow, white shirt, aqua pullover vest and brown, polka dot pajamas and matching socks when she met the local press.

She joins sister, Creighan, 3, and step-brother, Connor, 8, as the couple’s third child.

Courtney Sullivan said she got her daughter’s name from a stranger, a name she overheard while shopping.

“I heard her call her daughter, Laykin, and later I kept thinking about how much I liked it,” she said. “I thought, ‘If I ever have another daughter, I’m going to name her Laykin.’ So, I did. We just wanted to name her something different.”

Dad, a former martial arts instructor, calls Laykin his “little kung fu baby.” He sees her in the future dressed in a tiny karate training uniform, learning martial arts.
Mom, who loves little girls and dancing, doesn’t quite share his vision.

“Tell him, ‘No, I’m gonna be too prissy,’” she said, stroking Laykin’s cheek.

The Sullivan's said they didn’t think about Laykin being the first baby of the new year until hospital staff told them, but they love the fact.

“I just think it’s cool her birthday is 1/1/11,” Chad Sullivan said.

To mark the event, Springs Memorial gave the couple a $100 Walmart gift card, flowers and gift bags stuffed with baby items from diapers to baby wipes.
“On behalf of Springs Memorial Hospital, we congratulate the beautiful Sullivan family and wish them health and happiness for their entire family in the year ahead,” hospital spokeswoman Ashley Shannon said. “(Laykin) is going to be a happy baby.”