Solano County’s first baby of 2013 arrives in a hurry

Sara Shelby strokes her new child Keyshon Kidd, the first baby born in Solano County in 2013, at the NorthBay Newborn Intensive Care Unit Tuesday. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)

FAIRFIELD — Sara Shelby and Edward Kidd didn’t expect to be parents to the first Solano County baby born in 2013, not by a long shot.

Their baby wasn’t due until between Feb. 11 and Feb. 17. Even when Shelby left an at-home New Year’s Eve celebration at midnight to go to NorthBay Medical Center because of discomfort, she didn’t see the situation as a big deal. She traveled to the hospital to the sound of fireworks going off as 2013 arrived.

“I thought I was coming in with just bad contractions,” Shelby said on Tuesday morning. “They were just going to give me a shot and take me back home.”

Instead, the Fairfield resident at about 1:39 a.m. delivered a 4-pound, 15-ounce son, just minutes before the county’s second baby of the year was born, also at NorthBay Medical Center.

“He was six weeks early,” Shelby said. “I’m not quite prepared for that.”

Shelby and Kidd made a fast decision on a name. They chose Keyshon.

“Today, it was official,” Kidd said. “It was one of the final names we had.”

Meanwhile, they have to finish preparing the nursery more quickly than they expected. Kidd said things are pretty much ready.

Keyshon spent Tuesday in the newborn intensive care unit. Shelby expects she’ll go home Wednesday, but Keyshon might be at the hospital for two weeks. She will visit him every day.

“He’s healthy,” Shelby said. “His lungs are strong. He’s a tough guy.”

The family gathered in Shelby’s hospital room on Tuesday for a New Year’s celebration they hadn’t been expecting. Keyshon’s grandmother, Cynthia Kidd of Fairfield, was all smiles.

“My grandson is the first baby in Solano County,” Cynthia Kidd said. “I’m peacock-proud.”

Nearby sat Edward Kidd III, 13, Jai East Jr., 9, and Keyshon’s cousin. Keyshon’s brother, 2-year-old Keyon, had already been taken home.

For them all, New Year’s Day brought new life and a new beginning.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Barry Eberling

Barry Eberling has been a reporter with the Daily Republic since 1987. He covers Solano County government, transportation, growth and the environment. He received his bachelors of art degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his masters degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

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