New Year’s Day sees 1st baby arrive

Nicole and Russell Harbeson’s first child, Breanna, was born 13 months ago at the old Harrison County Hospital in Corydon.
Now the Corydon couple can say they had the first New Year’s baby born at the new hospital, which opened in February.
Brenden James Harbeson arrived at 5:35 a.m. on New Year’s Day, making him the first baby born in 2009 in Harrison County. He weighed 8.3 pounds and was 20-1/2 inches long. He had lots of dark brown hair. (The last time the first baby of the year arrived on New Year’s Day was 2006.)
Nicole’s due date was Jan. 23, but Brenden kept the couple guessing as to when he would actually arrive. False labor pains sent the 25-year-old to the hospital on Dec. 18. Medication prescribed by her obstetrician, Dr. Joseph Sauer, put off the natural labor closer to full term to allow the baby more time to develop.
Due dates don’t really carry much weight with the Harbesons; Breanna was born three weeks before the due date.
Nicole said she knew it was time to go to the hospital with Brenden about 5:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. She was admitted at 7:20 p.m.
The couple said they were very pleased with accommodations at the new hospital.
‘Everything has been wonderful,’ Nicole said. ‘It’s a lot nicer’ than the old facility.
The Harbesons were a little surprised to find themselves expecting a second child so soon after the birth of their first. Nicole, who is employed by HCH as a nurse, was still breastfeeding Breanna.
It was Russell’s 26th birthday, May 30, when they learned the news, Nicole said.
Brenden’s grandparents are Karen and Richert Harbeson and Marie Pittman, all of Corydon, and Dennis Brown of Palmyra. Great-grandparents are Cynthia Pittman of Corydon, Wilma Brown of Palmyra, Jim and LaVern Harbeson of New Albany and Paul and Margel Hausz of Lanesville.
Nicole is a 2002 graduate of Corydon Central High School, and Russell, who is employed as an equipment operator/truck driver by Premier Homes in Clarksville, is a 2001 graduate of Lanesville Junior-Senior High School.
The couple said it will be interesting to see how Breanna reacts to having a baby brother.
Brenden was released to go home with his parents and sister on Jan. 2.