Welcome Lake County's First Baby of 2014!

Lake County's first baby of 2014 has arrived!

Baby Maci Joyce Curtin, weighing in at 6-pounds, 4-ounces and 20 inches long, was delivered at 12:31 a.m. on New Year's Day, at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.

The proud first-time parents are Erin and Jason Curtin, of Crystal Lake.

Little Maci was the first baby born in Lake County in 2014, just two minutes ahead of a baby boy delivered at NorthShore University HealthSystem Highland Park Hospital, according to a Daily Herald article, which noted that mom Erin is a preschool teacher who grew up in Palatine, while dad Jason is a firefighter for the Wheeling Fire Department.

"It's a great way to start the new year," said Erin, 29, who was in labor for about 12 hours.

"It's a relief because I was two days overdue," she said.

Erin was admitted to the hospital early Tuesday afternoon after visiting her doctor that morning. The couple was fortunate that Erin was safe at the hospital before the big snow storm came, though it was a bit treacherous for family members who came to visit.

Having the first baby of the new year "was always in the back of our minds," said Jason, 32.

"It's very surreal," he said of becoming a first-time father. "We are very blessed."