Greenville Couple Welcomes Spencer Hospital's First Baby of 2020!

posted on Thursday, January 2, 2020 in General

** UPDATE! Our first baby of 2020 officially has a name! Welcome to Owen Kenneth Hofmeyer, Spencer Hospital's first baby of the New Year!

As the new parents gaze affectionately at their new baby boy, they both quickly agree that their little guy – the first baby born at Spencer Hospital in 2020 – was well worth the wait.

Elizabeth Essick and Justin Hofmeyer of Greenville saw their baby’s Dec. 24th due date come and go. A week later on Dec. 31, Elizabeth arrived at the Birth Center when she was experiencing contractions. Her physician, Dr. David Keith confirmed that she was in labor. Dr. Keith stayed with the couple and obstetrics nursing team overnight as Elizabeth’s labor progressed. Finally, at 1:07 PM on New Year’s Day their healthy baby was born.

While mom and dad agree baby was worth the extra wait, they haven’t quite agreed on his name just yet.

“We started out with a really long list and so it’s great we’re down to two,” explained mom Elizabeth. “We know he’ll have a name before we leave the hospital,” she added with a smile. 

The sweet baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces at birth and was 20.5 inches long. Grandparents are Ray and Kathy Essick, and Norma Miller, all of Spencer, and Dennis and Jolene Hofmeyer of Edgerton, MN.

The new family received a gift basket filled with baby boy items, compliments of Spencer Hospital Gift Shop.