Samantha Younger, 18, spent New Year’s Day in a hospital bed. Younger’s birth to a baby boy at 4 a.m. Jan. 1 makes him the first infant born in 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way.

Kavel is the first baby for Younger and husband, Osiris. With mom, cousin and grandma at Younger’s side, Kavel was born 7 pounds 14 ounces. He measures 20 inches in length.

Both mom and baby were discharged from the hospital Jan. 2. They are at home in Northeast Tacoma with Younger’s mom and are in healthy condition.

“He’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing,” Younger said. “He doesn’t cry much at all, thank gosh.”

Leading up to the birth, Younger was aware that she could give birth to a New Year’s baby. Once she was in labor, the process took longer than expected and with another woman also in labor, the two vied in an unspoken competition to see who would birth 2009’s first baby in Federal Way.

“We were neck and neck they said,” Younger said. “I wasn’t really caring; I just wanted to get him out.”

With the exception of one nurse who struggled to enter an I.V., the staff at St. Francis was helpful and kind, Younger said. She chose the hospital as her birthing place because of its proximity to her home and because she was born there, Younger said.

“Everybody that helped me was fantastic,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience.”

While in labor, Younger even got to meet one of the nurses who helped her mother give birth to Younger’s brother. The nurse told her she was the third person that week for whom she helped deliver a grandchild of a former patient.

Now that the pregnancy and birth are behind Younger, she is excited to experience life as a mom. She is eager to see her baby boy grow and get past the “baby poop stage,” she said. Younger wishes to continue her schooling, but for now will focus on Kavel.

“Right now I’m just going to be a mom,” she said.