Charlie Dunlap 2016 New Year’s baby

VW independent/submitted information

Charlie Xavier Dunlap was welcomed into the world at 7:49 a.m. Sunday, January 3, to become Van Wert County Hospital’s 2016 New Year’s baby.

His parents, Larry and Charity Dunlap, were excited and humbled to have the first baby of the year — especially since Charlie decided to come a month early.

“It was amazing just hearing him cry,” Charity said. “I had a C-section, so I was just waiting to hear him and when I did, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to see him.”

Charlie measured in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 19 inches long.

The happy parents, Van Wert residents, also have a 14-month-old son, Bryan, so the experience was not all new, but it did come with its differences.

Bryan, a “preemie”, was born a full two months early through an emergency C-section on November 17, 2014. Charity had gone in for an appointment at 9 a.m. and by noon was having surgery.

Bryan, who weighed only 2 pounds, 14 ounces at birth, spent two months at a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. When he finally got to go home, he weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces, and was still smaller than his little brother Charlie.

This time around, Charity and Larry said everything happened so much slower and they actually were able to process what was happening.

When Charity made it past the 32-week mark with Charlie, the couple was relieved. Larry guessed Charity would have baby No. 2 at 36 weeks, but as the due date of January 30 came closer and she still felt good, he thought maybe she would make it full term.

Around 3 a.m. on January 3, Charity’s water broke and they made it to Van Wert County Hospital about 45 minutes later. By 5 a.m., the couple knew they would be seeing Charlie that day.

“It was easier because we had time to process it and I knew everything was going as planned,” Larry said. “Last time, I was trying to call people and saw my wife going by as they were taking her into emergency surgery, so by the time I made it in the room, she already had Bryan.”

With the birth of Charlie, Larry was able to be in the room and see him right away.

As the young couple waited for the surgery to begin, they were told they had a chance of having the New Year’s baby.

“I had just looked on the hospital’s Facebook page and saw the basket the New Year’s baby was going to get and I thought it was so nice that the hospital did that and it was all so cute,” Charity said.

The couple was excited to be the recipients and thankful for the New Year’s baby basket.

Older brother Bryan still does not know what to think of the new baby Mom has been holding, but his parents are excited to get home to start their lives as a family of four.