By By JAN GRIFFEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Amber Ely and Cory Christensen of Dowagiac knew they were going to have their first child sometime shortly after the start of the new year, but they didn't expect him so soon.
Ely gave birth to Niles' first baby of 2004 at Lakeland Hospital's Birthplace at 12:22 p.m. Thursday.
She wasn't due to deliver little Aaryn Skyler Christensen until Jan. 15.
However that evening, New Year's Eve, she began to experience symptoms that made her think she may be going into labor.
She arrived at the hospital at about 9 p.m. It was shortly after 2:30 a.m. on New Year's Day that labor pains began to kick in and Ely knew for certain she was going to be delivering her baby.
Ely's baby was delivered by Dr. Neil Martin of Lakeland's Family Resource Center.
He weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 19-1/2 inches long.
Ely and Christensen said Lakeland showered them with gifts for their baby, this area's first this year.
Ely said she already had a diaper bag and baby book, so she shared those gifts with the mother who delivered her baby shortly after Ely's was born.