By Katherine Hoby
Midnight New Year's Eve - for many it's a time to celebrate the year that's been and to welcome the new one with revelry, dancing and kissing.
But not Sharlene Singleton. Instead she was about to give birth.
The Te Puke mother and her husband Paul were expecting their third
baby to be born this Friday but Joshua had other ideas. His birth at 2.07am on January 1 made him the first baby born in Tauranga in 2007.
Mrs Singleton had pain for two days before his arrival and was more than ready to have her baby.
"I was thinking 'what's happening? Is he coming or not?'," she said.
"At about midnight the pain got me real good."
The couple were concerned about traffic but had an easy run to hospital at about 12.30am. Their baby made a quick entry while 29-year-old Mrs Singleton was in the shower.
"This one wanted to come out. It was really easy."
She felt happy and contented after the birth, if a little tired.
"I felt better on New Year's Day than I have on previous ones," she said.
The family is preparing to move house looking for something more spacious.
Joshua's two older sisters Tahlia and Amber dote on him, competing to hold him and kiss his head.
"Imagine the 21st birthday he's going to have," Joshua's father said.
Mrs Singleton was thrilled to be at home already and had a sister from the United States and brother from Australia eager to meet their new nephew.
"It's the first time we've been together for ages and now we've had Christmas and the birth of a baby," she said.
"It was a very good way to celebrate New Year."
Tauranga Hospital's maternity ward was kept busy with the pitter-patter of tiny feet arriving as gifts for New Year's parents.
Joshua Singleton was followed by four other babies - two boys and two girls - with the last born just before midnight on January 1.
