'She's a blessing': First baby of 2023 followed family tradition of arriving on New Year's

The day before New Year's Eve, Chrissy Beiler, pregnant with her first child, was hanging out with her friends shopping in downtown Lebanon.

That evening her husband, Jon, took her out to eat at Texas Roadhouse, hoping to "go out to eat one last time before the baby comes."

"At five something the next morning, my water broke, and it was go time," she said.

At 1:23 p.m. on New Year's Day, baby Emma Grace Beiler was born at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital at 7 lbs, 10 oz in and 20 inches. Emma Grace is the first Lebanon County baby born to the hospital in 2023, according to a Wellspan spokesperson.

Jon Beiler said he originally believed his Saturday would be spent watching his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes playing in the Peach Bowl. But Emma Grace had different plans.

"It was a rush of emotions, (and) it's kind of hard to explain," Jon Beiler said. "We're just glad she's here, she's healthy, everything seems to be doing well. She's doing great, she's eating well."

The owner of Corrective Hoof Trimming said his family originally comes from Ohio and are big Buckeyes fans, a fandom they hope to share with Emma Grace. Calling his daughter a blessing, Jon said he hopes to instill good religious values in his daughter as she grows.

"Our prayer is that at a young age she trusts Christ as her personal savior, and goes on to live her life for him and glorify him in everything she does," he said. "As we are tasked with the responsibility of training her, that is our goal in mind."

Emma's original due date was Jan. 5 but arriving on New Year's is something of a tradition for Chrissy Beiler's side of the family, starting with her great great grandma Mable Marken.

"The 31st is my grandma's birthday, and Jan. 1st is my great great grandma's birthday," she said. "So (Emma) would have been born on someone's birthday."

There might be more children for the Beilers down the road, but for now they are just happy for their New Year's blessing.

"After a 31 hour labor for Chrissy, it's exciting to have (Emma Grace) here," Jon said.

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WellSpan operates hospitals with birthing units in Ephrata, Lebanon, York, Gettysburg, and Chambersburg across southcentral Pennsylvania.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Wellspan Good Samaritan welcomes Emma Grace Beiler as first 2023 birth