Ottawa’s first baby of the year — a girl — was born at the Queensway Carleton Hospital early Friday morning, arriving two weeks early and giving her parents a holiday to remember.

“This was the most exciting New Year’s we’ve had in a while,” said the baby’s mother, Amanda Hebert. “She is a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s gift!”

Amanda and her husband, Shawn Hebert, were not expecting the baby’s arrival until Jan. 18. The Munster Hamlet couple were enjoying a quiet New Year’s Eve when they had to drop everything and get to the hospital, arriving at about 9 p.m. The baby was born right at midnight.

The parents have yet to name their daughter, who was also a special holiday gift for her big sister Kaylee, who just turned two. The family knew they were expecting a girl, but didn’t anticipate they would need to have a name ready quite this soon.

“We really thought we had a couple more weeks to make a decision,” said Amanda Hebert.

The family plans to take a little time to get acquainted with their new member before they choose the perfect name for her personality.