Lehigh Valley's first child of the year born to Lehigh Township couple

The birth happened at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township.

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | MATT SMITHKaitlin Beani and her husband welcomed their second child, a girl they named Alexa, about an hour into the new year.

A Lehigh Township couple is celebrating the New Year with their newborn daughter, who arrived about an hour after midnight at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

Kaitlin Beani, 25, gave birth at 1:01 to her second daughter, Alexa Lorraine Beani. Beani's husband, Jason Beani, said his daughter came in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and is 21 inches long.

Kaitlin Beani's family, including her mother, two brothers, sister and two sisters-in-law, flocked to the hospital to celebrate the latest addition to their family.

"They wanted to come bring in the new year with a new baby," Kaitlin Beani said.

Alexa Beani's due date was Jan. 2, but Kaitlin Beani said she expected to give birth much sooner because her first daughter, born in April 2010, was nine days early.

"I thought I was having a Christmas baby," Kaitlin Beani said.

Kaitlin Beani said she started having contractions about 11 a.m. Saturday and thought she might have a New Year's Eve baby.

Jason Beani said he was elated with the birth and expected more family to gather at the hospital.

"It's an indescribable feeling," he said.

Jason Beani, who owns American Pools and Spas in Whitehall Township, said he plans on spending time with his new child for the foreseeable future. His business is family-owned so family members will be helping out to free up time, Jason Beani said.

Some other area hospitals reported births today, as well. Easton Hospital in Wilson Borough reported their first birth of the year at 3:40 this morning. St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill said their first was at 9:07. Hackettstown Regional Medical Center did not have any births as of early this afternoon.