Owensboro Health Regional Hospital rang in 2026 with its first newborn of the year, Zariyah.
Kelsee Watkins, of Tell City, and her fiancé Hunter Gaddis, of Custer, welcomed their baby girl at 9:39 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Zariyah weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces at birth and arrived earlier than expected. Watkins said the baby wasn’t due until Jan. 19, so a New Year’s Day delivery wasn’t on the family’s radar.
“Now we have New Year’s and a birthday to celebrate,” the couple said, adding that the timing made the day even more special.
The newest addition joins Zayden, 15 months, who is already settling into his new role as big brother. Gaddis and Watkins said they’re excited to now have both a boy and a girl, and hospital officials confirmed mom and baby are both doing well.
