Elisha Jacob Tamas greeted the world with his first breath early Sunday morning, just 25 minutes after his parents shared a kiss at midnight to bring in the new year.
That made Elisha, a healthy baby at 7 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long, the first child born at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in 2012.
Though he waited for birth after midnight, Elisha was actually an early arrival.
His mother, Diana Tamas, said his original due date was Jan. 7.
"I had a feeling he was going to be a New Year's baby," she said.
Still, she admitted she was concerned on Saturday night that he was going to be born in 2011.
When the doctor came in the room before midnight, she said she told him, "Hold on, hold on. I'm not ready."
The first born of 2012 is the second child of Diana and Jacob Tamas, both natives of Romania who now live in Winder.
The birth and its significance put his father in a philosophical mood Sunday afternoon.
"Each life is a miracle beyond what we can comprehend," Jacob Tamas said.
The second round of childbirth was much easier for the 29-year-old Diana. Her first born, Janessa, was delivered in Atlanta with much more discomfort.
"This time it was so fast; I couldn't believe it when it was over," she said.
Beyond the gift of life, there are perks to being the first born of the year at the Gainesville hospital.
Elisha and his parents were recipients of baby supplies and gifts offered by local businesses and organizations through the hospital's New Year's Baby promotion.
Elisha was one of nine children born at Northeast Georgia Medical Center through New Year's Eve night and the early morning hours of New Year's Day, said Denni Savage, the charge nurse this weekend at the Mother/Baby area in the hospital.
Savage said it was remarkably busy for a holiday weekend night.
Another child was born two minutes before midnight on Saturday, Savage said, just missing the window of becoming the New Year's baby.
Compare that to 2011 when the New Year's Baby wasn't born until 8:12 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Elisha's birthday, Jan. 1, or 1-1, his mother said, would now be as easy to remember as others in the family. Diana's birthday is April 4, or 4-4, and his older sister's is Sept. 9, or 9-9.