Jayce Stephen Rhein is The Outlook?s New Year?s Baby for ?06

Jayce Stephen Rhein is the ?First Baby of the Year? in The Outlook?s annual New Year?s Baby contest. Jayce Stephen is the son of Paul Rhein and Jillian Lopez of Onaway, and arrived at Alpena Regional Medical Center at 7:59 p.m. Wednesday, January 4.

Jayce (pronounced jase, not jay-see) weighed in at nine pounds, 12 ounces, and was 22 inches in length.

?He was the biggest in the nursery,? said first time mother Jillian. ?He is beautiful,? said Paul.

The parents chose Jayce as his first name because it sounds unique.

After Jillian was still with child past the due date of December 27, doctors decided to induce labor at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of Jayce?s birth.

Twelve hours later, the special bundle of

joy arrived, In less than a week, Jayce is lifting his head up and is alert to his parent?s voices.

Everything went smoothly at the hospital, so mother and son were released January 6. They are now back at home across the road from Chandler Park.

Jillian, who said she ate well during the pregnancy, will stay home to raise her baby, something she believes will come naturally for her.

?I have the instincts,? she said.

The grandparents are Mark and Pam Maki of Davidson, along with Don Parr and Cindy Rhein, both of Onaway. Maria Lopez of Rogers City is Jayce?s great grandmother.

Rhein and Lopez will be the recipients of many fine gifts from area merchants. They will be collecting those gifts within the next few weeks.