Runner-up for DuPage’s first baby ‘something special,’ mom predicts
Isabella Kalinin is runner-up for first baby of 2013 born in DuPage County. But judging by her mother’s pride in her already, it may be the last time Isabella is in second place instead of first.
The Riverside girl made her entrance at 12:50 a.m. Tuesday at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale.
“She’ll be something special,” predicted her mother, 27-year-old Snezhana Kalinin.
Isabella wasn’t due to arrive until Jan. 7, but Snezhana Kalinin started having contractions Monday and suspected the baby was coming. “She did not want to sit in there anymore,” Snezhana said.
But her husband, wanting to go to a New Year’s Eve party, did not believe her, Snezhana teased Tuesday afternoon.
“We did have a party. Just here,” said Igor Kalinin, 29.
Isabella weighs 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and is 30 inches long. She has a sister, Ella, age 3.
Snezhana noted that Ella, whose middle name is Trinity, was born on a day special to the Baptist family — Trinity Sunday.
The first DuPage County baby of 2013 was born at 12:29 a.m. at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, but the family of that child decided not to release details.
An Aurora family had the first baby born in Northwest Cook County. Hope Yagmur Labbe, born via Caesarean section at 12:13 a.m. at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and is the second child of Fidan and Sean Labbe.
“She was quite a surprise,” said Fidan, adding that her due date was Jan. 9. “She’s just gorgeous.” Hope joins 14-year-old brother, Brendan.
The couple were at a New Year’s Eve gathering of family and friends in Carpentersville when the contractions became more intense about 8 p.m. Monday evening.
“At 9 o’clock, one of our friends said, ‘I’m calling the doctor. This is it,’” Sean said.
Sean, an instructor at North Central College, and Fidan, a sales executive, independently thought of the name Hope without discussing it.
“It has special meaning for us,” said Fidan.
“What we hope is it will be a great year,” said Sean.
Ÿ Daily Herald staff writer Mick Zawislak contributed to this report.