‘Can’t get much earlier’: Sault welcomes first baby of 2024

One hour and 36 minutes was all that was needed for Sault Ste. Marie to welcome its first baby of 2024.

Although she was due five days ago, first-time mom Kim Bolton rang in the new year by giving birth to her healthy baby girl Lennox Wren at 1:36 this morning inside the Sault Area Hospital.

“You can’t get much earlier,” she laughed. “Lennox is my first, so it’s super exciting.”

Weighing seven pounds and two ounces while measuring 21 ½ inches in length, Lennox has started off the year “relaxed and content”, according to her excited mom.

Bolton told SooToday she was at home when she went into labour around 4 a.m. on the final day of 2023. After arriving at the hospital, she could only describe the next 21 hours as “a marathon.”

“I didn’t think it was going to go that long,” she said. “I was expecting that it was going to be a December 31st baby. But all of a sudden, we rolled into her being the first baby of the new year. It was really unexpected.”

“It was a long day for sure, but it went by relatively quickly,” she added. “Exhausting, but it went faster than I would have thought.”

Originally from southern Ontario, Bolton moved to the Sault seven years ago and has since worked for the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board.

“I’ve always wanted kids, but I’ve been busy with my career and other parts of my life,” she said. “This is something I’ve definitely been excited for. The actual feeling of it is so surreal to put into words right now.”

When she went into labour in the early hours of Dec. 31, Bolton explained that she was confident Lennox would end up being the youngest child in all of her future classes and social activities.

But in a surprise turn, her daughter will now be the oldest.

“I always said I thought it would be nice for the kid’s sake not to be the youngest in everything; it was always sort of a joke,” she said. “Because my labour started so early on the 31st, I could not believe we made it into 2024.”

Grateful for the support from the hospital, Bolton says she can’t say enough good things about the quality of care she and her newborn have been receiving.

“The staff, the OB, the midwife, the nurses – they were all unbelievable,” she said. “I’m blown away with how they were with me and then with the baby. They were so helpful and attentive, they answered every question, and made everything seem calm.”

While she can envision herself having more children down the road, Bolton is most looking forward to enjoying some quality time with her little one.

“I don’t have any specific plans other than taking in every minute of this,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to enjoying this next chapter and spending time with her. She’s perfect.”