First baby of 2019 was impatient

Arkyn William Leavitt is Sweetwater County's first baby of 2019.

Craig and Hilary Hollihan Leavitt of Green River expected him to enter the world on Jan. 13.

Arkyn had other plans.

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County's first baby of the new year was born at 10:46 a.m. Jan. 1, 2019, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces and 21 1/4 inches long.

It took a bit of studying to come up with a name. They both teach special education at Green River High School, so run across a wide variety of names.

"Craig is a fan of Norse mythology," Hilary said. "Arkyn was the only name we both liked."

It means "the eternal king's son."

The Leavitts joked, saying the arrival of their first born was destined to be early.

"I knew the day before New Year's Eve that he'd be early," Hilary said. "I wasn't feeling well. I woke up New Year's Eve morning and felt worse."

Her husband had been gone for several hours that morning helping a friend. She worried he might not be there if she went into labor.

Five minutes after he returned home, her water broke.

"I had to leave so it would happen," Craig said with a chuckle.

Hilary said it was fate since her obstetrician, Dr. Jeffery Wheeler, was planning to be out of town this week.

"I tried to get him to induce me last week," she said. "He just laughed."

Instead, Dr. Samer Kattan did the honors.

"He was wonderful," Hilary said.

"He did a great job," Craig added.

Arkyn is the grandson of Charlie Hollihan, Tammy Wagoner, and David and Tammy Leavitt, all of Green River; and Dean and Lorraine Steppe of Cody.