NORTH ADAMS -- At 5:55 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Harley Lesage became northern Berkshire's newest resident, and the city's first born of 2013.
The parents, Hoosac grads Molly Downing and Steven Lesage of Adams, bleary-eyed after a long night, took a moment out of New Year's Day to speak with the Transcript.
"We kind of figured it could be anytime, but we weren't really expecting New Year's," Downing said, of her first child -- a healthy 19.5 inch, seven pound, seven ounce baby boy. "Everybody has been saying he looks like Steve."
Lesage, who counts Harley as his third child, all boys, explained the couple's choice of name as -- indeed -- a reference to the famed motorcycle company Harley-Davidson.
"I figured I'd never be able to own one so I might as well have one in a sense," he joked.
The name has grown in popularity as a first and surname in recent years for both sexes, according to babycenter.com.
The new parents shared their feelings of relief, on top of joy -- and exhaustion -- during 2013's first afternoon.
In November, Downing went into preterm labor and had been in and out of the hospital ever since with false alarms. Harley's original due date was Jan. 15.
Both were all smiles as Harley's grandmothers were ushered in to meet their new grandson at around 3 p.m.
Paul Hopkins, Director of Community Relations at North Adams Regional Hospital,
"We deliver about 300 babies every year and it's always nice to have our first of the year come right on New Year's Day," Hopkins said.
Asked if there was anything else either would like to share, Lesage chimed in.
"Don't laugh at a women giving birth," he said. "She tends to hit you."
-- Phil Demers
Font Resize
