First baby of 2015 arrives early

IRONWOOD - Newborn Sara Esther Bilc surprised her parents by arriving one month early, on Jan. 4, instead of Feb. 4.

On Thursday, her parents, Esther and Andrei Bilc, of Ironwood, were further surprised to learn their only daughter was the first baby born in the area in 2015.

"That is very neat," Esther said. "That is a surprise to us."

An interesting part of Sara's birth was that she was born in a similar matter to her mother and to her uncles - at home instead of at the hospital.

"It was very quiet at home with the midwife," Esther said. "The midwife was Sandy Pera, of Ramsay, who also delivered my younger brother, Nathaniel."

Since her birth, Sara has been doted on by her parents, grandparents and uncles, and Esther said she has been such a good baby.

"She has been very quiet," Esther said. "We love giving her kisses."

Sara's father is Romanian, and her parents plan on teaching her both English and Romanian so she can speak to her grandparents in Europe.

Her paternal grandparents are Mihai and Lucia Bilc, of Horia-Arad, Romania, and her great-grandmother is Elena Bucatos, of Bocsig, Romania.

Sara's maternal grandparents are Timothy and Terri Bale, of Ironwood, and her great-grandparents are Jim and Joan Bale, of Ironwood Township.

"We are so excited she's here," Esther said. "We just love her so much."

"We are very happy," Andrei said.