New Year’s baby for the Smoky River region – Olivia Grace Andersen – born Jan. 1, 2008 to James and Aimee Andersen with siblings Lynden, 9, Mason, 7, Jenaya, 4, and Rebekah, 2.

A New Year’s baby for the Smoky River region for 2008 is truly a New Year’s baby eventhough the newborn arrived one day early. Olivia Grace Andersen was born Jan. 1 at 3:22 p.m. to James and Aimee Andersen of Donnelly in McLennan at Sacred Heart Community Health Centre. “She was expected to be born on Jan. 2, but we’re happy that she arrived on Jan. 1 as the New Year’s baby,” says mother Aimee. However, it seemed that the staff was more excited about the newborn. “Nurses were dancing in the hallway and screaming ‘the New Year’s baby has arrived, the New Year’s baby has arrived’,” says Aimee. “They made a big deal of it.” Weighing six pounds and 11 ounces, Olivia is the fifth child of the Andersens, a sister for brothers Lynden, 9, and Mason, 7, and sisters Jenaya, 4, and Rebekah, 2. “I was surprised but pleased that it was a girl,” says father James, a teacher in Falher at Ecole Routhier school for the past six years. “We’re trying to keep the school enrolment up,” he chuckled. Olivia’s brothers had mixed emotions about their new sister. “I’m excited to have another sister, says Lynden. “Mason just shrugged his shoulders and said it’s just another kid,” says father James. Both given names for the newborn child carry family traditions. Olivia is the name of Aimee’s grandmother who Aimee was very close to, says Aimee. Grace was the name selected by James’ mother Patricia who passed away last June. Proud grandparents are Brian Andersen, and Tom and Yvonne McDonnell, all of Campbell River, British Columbia. Health region’s New Year’s baby born New Year’s Day earlier In Grande Prairie For the second successive year, a Smoky River area couple gave birth to the second New Years’ baby. Olivia Andersen was the second baby born in 2008 in Peace Country Health region. Darcy and Charlin Tofteland of Grande Prairie gave birth to Christian Darcy Tofteland on Jan. 1 at 2:35 a.m. at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie.