Bunbury's first 2013 baby

An Eaton couple have an extra reason to celebrate the beginning of 2013, with the arrival of their son on Tuesday morning, making him the Bunbury region’s first baby of the year.

Shannon Steers and Tim McKenna spent the last hours of 2012 at the Parade Hotel ringing in the New Year – just hours before heading to hospital to welcome their second child together.

“We actually went to the Parade Hotel to check out a band for our wedding, which we booked,’’ Ms Steers said.

“We were there from 9pm to 1am and I had a little dance, and my sister-in-law said to me, ‘we’ll dance him out tonight’.’’

Michael David McKenna arrived at 11.10am on January 1 at St John of God Hospital Bunbury, weighing 3250g.

Mr McKenna said he was “very proud’’ of the new arrival and the couple agreed that having the first baby for 2013 was special.

Michael was born three weeks early, but Ms Steers said she had expected him to arrive a day earlier.

“Our other son Jack was born on my dad’s birthday and Michael was one day off being born on Tim’s dad’s birthday – he was supposed to come on December 31 as far as we were concerned,’’ Ms Steers said.

She said she was unsure when they would leave the hospital but hoped to be home at the weekend for a family party.