Elysia Samarodin and Mark Zeabin never expected they’d be having a New Year’s baby.
When Liv Zeabin arrived Tuesday she was 12 days over due. The tiny treasure was likely doing her parents a favour.
After a “dynamic pregnancy,” Samarodin says she’d been having false contractions for some time and even thought her baby would arrive early. Then the flu hit.
“I got so sick. She got so sick. We could barely take care of each other over Christmas,” says Zeabin. “As soon as Elysia got better, I said let’s do this.”
A remedy of apricot juice, castor oil, almond butter and lemon verbena put the expectant mamma into labour. A brief affair, Liv did her parents another favour. After a couple hours of contractions and nine minutes of pushing, the New Year’s baby arrived at 3:24 p.m. on January 1. She was a whopping 8.5 lbs.
“She is just exquisite to me,” says Samarodin.
Older siblings Wyatt, 7, and Nikayla, 15, are also pleased.
“She’s the best ever, Mamma. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” says Samarodin of Wyatt’s comments.
The proud couple, living in Brilliant, was surprised at the arrival of a daughter. All along they’d expected a son.
Having the New Year’s Baby feels special to her parents.
“It’s neat that she’s the first baby of the year, at this big transition time,” says Samarodin. “Saying her name – Liv, it sounds just perfect.”
With mom and babe in good health, the couple took their new bundle home on Jan. 2.