Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Amy Dhabalt-Barker’s due date was New Years Day.

But, she didn’t really know she’d be giving birth to the first baby of the year at HSHS St. John’s Hospital until, well, it happened, at 12:41 a.m. Thursday.

“We were scheduled to come in on the (December) 30th, so we thought we’d be done well before the New Year, but he had other plans,” said Dhabalt-Barker.  “As time got closer to the New Year, we kind of realized it might actually happen on the new year.”

Theodore Barker is happy and healthy and already at home after what Amy says started out as an overwhelming experience.  He weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 20 inches long on his birth day.

Matt Barker says at least his brand new son didn’t have to start out life by watching Ohio State lose to Miami in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday.  But, otherwise, he’s thrilled.

“I’ve wanted a boy since I could remember,” said Matt Barker.  “I’ve been calling it to be a boy for nine months.  When he came out, I was the first one to see what’s special and say, ‘Hey!  That’s a boy!’  It was pretty exciting.

Exciting at least, Matt Barker says, until Theodore gave him what we’ll call a celebratory shower after birth.  The Barkers decided to wait until he was born to find out whether Theodore would be a boy or girl.

Dhabalt-Barker says this New Year is already significantly better than last New Year, with Theodore being what might be considered a miracle.

“We actually started 2025 finding out we were pregnant, and miscarrying,” said Dhabalt-Barker.  “It’s kind of whirlwind to start 2025 that way, and now, have the first baby of 2026.  Full circle.”

Theodore, Amy Dhabalt-Barker says, is healthy, happy, quite vocal already, and — in her words, perfect.

This is the first child for the Barker family, and is one of what will be an estimated 2,000 children born at St. John’s, through their Women and Infants Center this year.  The hospital gave the family a basket full of baby supplies to mark the milestone.