Spokane newborn rings in 2007

Owen Beckham Armstrong is the son of two teachers, so it should be no surprise that Spokane’s first baby of 2007 earned an “A” for promptness.

The 8-pound, 8-ounce boy was due to arrive on New Year’s Day – and he did, debuting at Sacred Heart Medical Center at 2:08 a.m., according to his father, Joshua Armstrong.

Owen’s parents managed to enjoy a New Year’s Eve dinner before mom Shawna Armstrong, a 33-year-old kindergarten teacher, went into labor about 7 p.m. Sunday.

The new father, a professor of leadership studies at Gonzaga University, said the arrival of the couple’s third child – all boys – went smoothly.

“She’s actually really good at this,” Joshua Armstrong said of his wife.

Big brothers are Aiden, 6, and Eli, 4.

Owen was joined a couple hours later by North Idaho’s first baby of the new year, Kahlei Christine Brown. Mom Cassandra Brown, 30, of Coeur d’Alene, delivered the 7-pound, 15.5-ounce girl at 4:10 a.m. Monday at Kootenai Medical Center.

Kahlei was due to arrive last Wednesday, said Cassandra Brown, an assistant manager for a local clothing store.

“She took her time,” said Brown, who entered the hospital on Friday.

About a dozen babies are born each Jan. 1 in Spokane County, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The last time there was a close race for the top spot was in 2004, when two babies were born in the first hour of the year.

Hospitals in both regions give small presents to the first babies and their parents. At Sacred Heart’s BirthPlace, the new mom is treated to a massage, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The impact of the holiday arrival will become more apparent in the coming years, the new parents said.

“I think it will mean he’s always going to have great parties on his birthday, surrounded by family and friends,” Joshua Armstrong said.

For now, the extra honor is just a nice bonus, Cassandra Brown said

“For me, it was a brand new beginning of a new year,” she said.