Lowcountry's first babies of the New Year born just 12 minutes apart

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The first babies of the New Year in the Lowcountry took their time joining their families, waiting nearly two hours to be crowned New Year's babies. But once one was delivered, the other was not far behind.

In the maternity wards at Medical University Hospital and Roper St. Francis, the cries of new life rang in a new year early Friday morning for two families.

It was a race to the finish to see who would be the first baby of 2016 born in the Lowcountry.

"This morning they brought us a beautiful gift basket and they said, 'We're making a few more phone calls but we're pretty sure you all are the first,'" said Brian and Shelly.

Their son Weston was born at 1:40 a.m., the first of the year.

"You're a famous baby already, one day old. Everyone's partying for you buddy," the proud parents said.

Twelve minutes behind Baby Weston was Baby Mildred.

"Mildred Abigail Haselden, and she'll go by Millie," said Amanda Haselden, Millie's mom.

The Haseldens have already introduced her to their favorite college football team, Clemson, with an orange and purple cap.

"So we were really thinking we'd have that New Year's Eve baby right in the middle of the Clemson game, but she made up her mind and got here quick on New Year's morning," Amanda Haselden said.

Both babies are already getting their fair share of nicknames, ranging from peanut to baby burrito, but both are sleeping "like a happy little pig."

But that just comes with the territory when you're one of the first newborns of the new year.

"It was definitely a long and difficult wait, but he did great, and we're just so excited that he's a New Year's baby," Brian and Shelly said.

"We're ready. Yeah, we're ready for the challenge," Amanda Haselden said. "We know she won't always be this perfect, but we can hope."