Features Editor

Little Alexandra McLendon arrived a few weeks early and just in time to be Pike County’s 2002 New Year’s baby.

When 6-pound, 2-ounce Alexandra was born at 5:38 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, at Edge Regional Medical Center. Dad, Brian McLendon, was right there and coached mom, Kayla, in giving birth to their firstborn.

McLendon was not a trained coach, but he wanted to be there to lend support and love to mom and and baby.

"I just tried to keep Kayla from being anxious and scared," he said. "I was happy, but I was also worried. I didn’t want anything to go wrong. I was just hoping for the best."

When the nurse told the young couple the baby was on the way and that she had a "head full of hair," McLendon asked, "What color?"

"When the nurse said, ‘jet black,’ for some strange reason, all the tension just seemed to go away," he said.

When dad heard his little girl cry for the first time, he couldn’t help but cry himself.

"I can’t explain why," he said. "She was just perfect, and I was so happy. I had a lot of mixed emotions."

And, mom felt a rush of joy and pride in her baby girl.

"All I could think was, ‘She’s mine!’" she said.

The couple had known for some time that their baby was a girl, but they had no idea how beautiful she would be or how proud they would be to be mom and dad.

Mom had wanted a girl and she got a beautiful one. Dad wanted a boy, but said it really didn’t matter as long as the baby was healthy.

And, he admitted he wouldn’t give his baby girl back or trade her for a dozen little boys.

"I’ll keep her," McLendon said, unable to hide his pride.

Neither mom or dad had any thoughts of having the New Year’s baby, because their baby wasn’t due until Jan. 27.

So, they were surprised when their baby came early and that, on Jan. 4, their little one had the distinction of being the New Year’s baby for the year 2002.

For their baby, who will be called Lexie, mom wishes her a

happy, health life. Dad’s wishes are the same and he also had a little advice for the newborn, "Never settle for second best.