As 2026 kicked off Thursday, Franciscan Health in Crown Point welcomed the first baby born in the new year.
Jacob Robert Patrick Kelley Jr. was born at 1:29 a.m. at Franciscan Health in Crown Point to Mattie Tengdin and Jacob Kelley of Crown Point. He weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and was 19.7 inches long, according to a release.
In Illinois, Sofia Aylani was born at 9:02 a.m. at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields to Maria Navarro and Danis Avila of South Chicago Heights. She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 20 inches long, according to the release.
To celebrate the first babies born in the new year, the hospital gives each family a gift basket with items to help mom and dad with the first weeks at home with their babies, according to the release.
