Kalispell families welcome New Year's babies

The Flathead’s first baby of 2018 came in a 5-pound, 12-ounce bundle of baby girl on the evening of Jan. 1.

Born at 5:04 p.m. at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, Blair Darcy Goertzen, daughter of Laura and Johnathan Goertzen of Kalispell, became the valley’s New Year’s baby.

“It’s awesome,” Laura said. “We were pretty shocked she was the first one born.”

Blair joins big brother Hudson, 2, whom his mother said could not be more excited about his new little sister.

Though mom said going from one child to two is challenging, Hudson has the affection department managed and has been covering Blair, or “baby sis,” in kisses since she got home.

According to Laura, the family has big plans for the new year, including a move toward the country this spring.

Blair was followed by Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s first baby of the year, born the next morning.

Parents Sandy and Jacob Harrel of Kalispell welcomed their third child, Quynn Adele Harrell, at 7:48 a.m. on Jan. 2.

Quynn weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and joins big bother James, 8, and big sister Jordyn, 4.

According to Sandy, their daughter’s gender was a surprise and Jordyn has been celebrating the arrival of a little sister.

Though he was hoping for a brother, mom said James has called every day from his motocross competition in Utah to check on the family’s newest addition.

Quynn, Sandy said, will be their last child, and she and her husband plan to cherish the early months while they can.

“They grow up so fast,” she said.

Their goal for this year, Sandy said, is to spend more time doing things together as a family.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.