First Bay Area baby of 2016 arrives at stroke of midnight

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- The countdown that ushered in the new year also led up to the birth of what appears to be the Bay Area's first baby of 2016.

Little Edward James was born right at the stroke of midnight at Eden Medical Center in the community of Castro Valley, according to Sutter Health spokesman Clayton Warren.

Edward weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.

His mother, Michelle Beanes, and father, James Pierce, are Hayward residents. Warren said Beanes and her baby were reportedly in good health.

"He's perfect and I'm not saying that lightly. He didn't even cry when he came out, so I'm in love already," said mom Michelle Beames.

Beames' doctor induced her New Year's Eve morning when nurse Peggy Sandfort was on duty.

"We talked about it when she was in labor that maybe she would get to have the new year's baby, but you never know Mother Nature picks her time," said Sandfort.

Having the first baby of the New Year is not only exciting for the new parents it's also bragging rights for the nurses. Phones were ringing by 1 a.m. to see who's had the first baby.

Edward didn't make anyone wait that long says new dad, James Pierce. "He came at the stroke of midnight. I was dumbfounded," said Pierce.

"I saw the second hand as soon as it hit that 12. He was out, and I was like 'Are you serious?' Literally twelve o'clock," said Beames.

There is a clock in the room, but officially hospitals use a clock on the computer.