The experience of childbirth for Brenda Carpio was similar the second time around, but just a little different.

Same hospital. Same swirl of heady emotion. Same oohing and ahhing over the newest addition to the family.

But what made it unique this time? Her baby boy, Gael Guadalupe Chavez, happened to be the first child born at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in 2016.

The 8-pound, 3 ounce boy made his entrance at 12:54 a.m. Friday, measuring 21 inches in length with black hair to match that of his father, Carlos Chavez.

Mother said the original due date was Thursday. The family arrived at the hospital around 2 p.m. Thursday, “but (Gael) took longer than we thought, and it was kind of a surprise he was born on New Year’s Day.”

Carpio is a student at University of North Georgia, where she studies accounting. Chavez is a construction worker. The couple lives together in Gainesville.

“We like it here,” Carpio said. “It’s a pretty area to a raise a family, and it’s very calm and quiet.”

As she recovered in her hospital room Friday afternoon, Carpio said she was excited to introduce newborn Gael to his 19-month-old sister, Geraldine Chavez.

“We’re expecting her to be a little jealous at first,” Carpio said, laughing, adding that it will be a big change for the whole family.

“We’ll have to get used to waking up early again and changing (Gael’s) diapers and feeding him every couple hours,” she said.

It’s a longstanding tradition at the local hospital to honor the first baby of the year with a gift basket and often a visit from the press. That was a pleasant surprise, Carpio said.

“This has been a great experience,” she said. “And, we’re happy to have another blessing in our lives.”