MAUI NEWS

A New Year's labor of love

Mother: First baby of 2011 'definitely wanted to make an entrance'

January 2, 2011 - By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writer

WAILUKU - Baby Edelhertz donned a T-shirt that only he could wear on Maui: New Year's Baby 2011.

His mom, Tracy, a chef and private caterer from Pukalani, had not quite decided on his first name Saturday afternoon, about 12 hours after his arrival at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Tracy Edelhertz said she was leaning toward naming her first child Taveren Ray. The first name comes from a character in a series of epic fantasy novels called "The Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan. Both mom and the baby's dad, Tony Stokes of Kihei, have been reading the series of books.

Rae is Edelhertz's grandmother's nickname, but she said she'll likely use the male spelling of the name.

Baby Edelhertz was born at 1:02 a.m. Saturday at Maui Memorial Medical Center. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces and stretched 20 inches long.

Tracy Edelhertz, who has been out of work because of a back injury, said she knew from an ultrasound in July that she was having a boy. Just prior to her confirmed pregnancy, she said she dreamed about spending time with a 2-year-old son.

During the pregnancy, she said she's been chatting with the baby, talking to him about how they'll spend their time together. In his mother's arms Saturday afternoon, the baby appeared alert, and he obediently stopped crying when he heard his mom's soothing voice.

Edelhertz, whose baby was due Dec. 27, said she never thought about delivering Maui's New Year's baby until she was told to push during delivery just 15 minutes before midnight.

She arrived in the delivery room around 5:30 p.m. Friday with at least five other women also in labor. "I thought it would take longer, to tell you the truth," she said of the amount of time she expected to be in labor.

Two of the moms gave birth around 11 p.m., and the other two followed baby Edelhertz later on New Year's morning.

"He definitely wanted to make an entrance," Edelhertz said.

She was supported in the labor room by her hanai sister and "fabulous" birthing coach, Jaime Kolahi; and her mother, Judith Pinney, who traveled from Arizona shortly before Christmas to await the arrival of her only grandchild.

"I just want him to be happy," Edelhertz said.

Edelhertz said family ties will be emphasized and that more than likely, the baby's birthday will always be a celebration.

"He'll have a birthday party every single year," she said. "Even if there isn't a party, there'll always be a celebration with ringing in a new year."

* Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.

Source: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/544615/A-New-Year-s-labor-of-love.html