San Antonio’s first baby of 2010 arrives at University Hospital

(January 1, 2010 – SAN ANTONIO, TX) At 29 minutes past midnight on January 1, Joshua Alejandro Cardona, let out his first cry at University Hospital, becoming San Antonio’s 2010 Baby New Year. He is the first child of San Antonio resident Wendy Cardona and weighed in at a healthy six pounds, 15 ounces despite arriving more than a week early.

"My due date was January 9th, so when I started feeling contractions, I didn’t think it was time," says the proud mom. "I was at the store getting ready for New Year’s Eve." She went home but by late in the evening, she knew it was time. She and Joshua’s father Ricardo Alejandro arrived at University Hospital at 10:40 p.m. and, less than two hours later, the obstetrics staff at the hospital was encouraging her to keep pushing. It was after midnight, but word had spread across the hospitals that the first baby of the New Year had not yet arrived. Joshua was born moments later and confirmed to be the winner of the annual celebration of San Antonio’s Baby New Year.

All San Antonio hospitals work together on the project to honor the community’s first baby with a car seat, baskets of gifts and gift cards. In addition, University of the Incarnate Word awards the first baby born each year with a $10,000 scholarship. "We are so excited. I couldn’t believe it when they told us," said Cardona.