GAINESVILLE - Northeast Georgia Medical Center is showering a Toccoa couple with gifts for having delivered the hospital's first baby of 2008.

But Adam and Brittaney Gragg also are celebrating, maybe a little more than the average couple, the good health of their new daughter, Bonnie Christine.

The Graggs had concerns about how Brittaney's lupus, a chronic disease that can cause tissue damage throughout the body, might affect Bonnie.

"We both did good," Brittaney said. "She's really healthy. The Lord just really looked out for her. A lot of people were praying for her."

Bonnie, at 7 pounds and 13 ounces, entered the world at 12:06 a.m. Tuesday.

"About 15 minutes before she was delivered, a good 10 nurses came into the room because they really wanted her to be born at 12," said 23-year-old Brittaney, who just two weeks ago graduated from Toccoa Falls College with a degree in counseling psychology.

"They were all in there cheering for us."

The couple was supposed to arrive at 6 a.m. Monday for Brittaney to begin induced labor, but a backlog of mothers-to-be pushed the procedure to 11:30 a.m.

The Graggs were expecting a New Year's Eve baby, even buying their daughter an outfit with "Tax deduction" embroidered on it.

They won't catch that tax break this year, but they'll have a cache of gifts from the hospital and other sponsors, including a $1,000 savings bond, handmade quilt and gown, case of diapers and photo package.

"I didn't realize what a big deal it was until the nurses came in with all the gifts," Brittaney said.
The Graggs knew before the delivery they were having a girl and had prepared for the newborn's arrival at home, including getting the nursery ready.

"The house is completely babyfied," said the new mom.