Sienna Chassé received a special Christmas gift after nine months of waiting.
The 20-year-old Innisfail woman gave birth to Red Deer’s first Christmas Day baby on Saturday.
Rhiadenn Cheal McKenzie Chassé was welcomed in to the world at 7:11 a.m. — weighing seven lbs seven oz.
Chassé said her first child was due on Dec. 25 so he came right on time.
She had been visiting at a family friend’s place in Innisfail on Christmas Eve when she started getting contractions.
“I had been having early contractions for about two days and so we thought nothing was going to happen,” said Chassé.
She initially left the friend’s house to go home and get ready for Christmas Day festivities, but decided to go back to the friend’s house.
The contractions worsened so she went to the hospital with her mother.
Chassé, a single mother, said it’s “really weird” to think she had Red Deer’s first Christmas Day baby.
The only other baby to arrive at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Dec. 25 was another boy at 12:45 p.m.
Her whole family helped choose the boy’s name — her older brother picked the first name, her mother picked the second and her younger brother’s middle name is McKenzie.
Having a baby on Christmas Day will mean trying to make the day special in some way — whether it means more gifts or not.
“I think it will all work out,” said Chassé, while her baby boy slept peacefully next to her in the nursery bed.
The single mother tried to get some sleep as well before leaving the hospital later that day on Dec. 26.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com