The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Jan. 1 -- Chentell James wanted to hold her newborn nephew but looked to her mother, Jane James, for guidance.

"Go ahead and inspect," the first-time grandmother sighed with a sense of inevitability.

The James family, including patriach Steven James, all of LaVale, spent much of New Year's Day at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center welcoming the son of Scott and Kayelynn Carter, of Romney, W.Va.

Scott Eugene Carter Jr., born at 2:54 a.m., was the first child born in Allegany County in 2011.

One nurse said the labor and delivery unit at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center was "booming." Scott Jr. was the first of six babies born on Saturday in Cumberland.

Young Scott arrived 15 days before his Jan. 16 due date. He weighed 6 pounds, 2.6 ounces and was recorded as being 18.75 inches long.

About 14 hours after his birth, Aunt Chentell was visiting her nephew for the first time. Grandparents Steven and Jane James had been day-long visitors.

Scott Jr. is Scott's first child and Kayelynn's second. Little Gabriel Lee McDonald, 2, will step into the role of big brother as soon as Jan. 2, when the Carters expect to be released.

Despite his young age, Scott Jr. already is helping to establish a family tradition. His maternal grandmother, Trina Garcia, was the first baby of the New Year in 1968 when she was born at the former Memorial Hospital, also in Cumberland.

Scott Sr. said his newborn son wasn't exactly planned - but wasn't prevented, either. The young family is going to simply go with the flow, so to speak.

"It was kind of one of those things (where) if it happens, it happens," said Scott, who works at Advance Auto Parts in Romney. Either way, he said, "we're in it for the long run."

"He's tiny," said Kayelynn, whose first-born son, Gabriel, was born at 7 pounds, 6.8 ounces, to outweigh his little brother at birth by 1.62 pounds. Scott Jr. measured 18.75 inches in length.

Kayelynn delivered naturally. Her water broke at about midnight and Scott Jr. was born slightly less than three hours later. There were no complications, the new parents said.

Around supper time Saturday, both acknowledged they'd had little sleep in recent days. A short nap by Scott shortly before the evening meal was delivered by a nurse was "the best I've slept in two days," he said.

It was a long first day of life for Scott Jr., as he was visited by numerous family members.

On the father's side, he was visited by the James family, including 17-year-old Matthew. Scott Jr.'s great-grandmother, Elma Dolly, of LaVale, planned to visit as soon as she was in better health.

Kayelynn's mother, Trina Garcia, of Green Spring, W.Va., was at the hospital early Saturday with her husband, Juan Garcia, and their chidlren Jose, 18, and Fernando, 15. Cousins Holly Riggs, of Romney, and Autumn Chaney also laid eyes on Scott Jr. for the first time on Saturday as did aunts Debbie Riggs, Shawna Chaney and grandmother Evelyn Wines, all of Romney.

Scott Sr. Said he's had his son's crib built for three months. Steven James said there were three sets of everything at each grandparents' home and the couple, who married 14 months ago.

As for babysitters, "there won't be a problem with that," said Jane James.

Scott seemed confident he and Kayelynn had prepared for Scott Jr.'s early days.

"We think we are" ready, Scott Sr. said. "i'm sure we'll find something (we forgot)."

It didn't take long. Grandmother Jane noted the couple had just two bottles on hand. A trip to the store in the very near future was in order.