By Melissa Soria

Pharos-Tribune staff writer

Isabella Marie Lucero wasn’t supposed to be a New Year’s baby.

In fact, her original destiny was to come into the world on Jan. 13. But she couldn’t wait until then.

Isabella was born at 11:55 a.m. Monday to Fauleen and Chris Lucero. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long.

Fauleen said she didn’t expect to go into labor Monday.

“I woke up with contractions at 7:30 in the morning,” she said. “I just didn’t feel real good.”

Fauleen arrived at Logansport Memorial Hospital at 9 a.m. Monday.

“The whole thing was pretty quick,” she said.

Isabella was born only three hours later. She is the Luceros’ second child. She has a 2-year old brother, Kaiden.

Isabella wasn’t the Luceros’ only surprise for the day. As a result of being the year’s first newborn, she and the family received gifts from more than 30 local businesses. Gifts included gift certificates, stuffed animals and a personalized baby blanket.

Isabella also became the first child to qualify for a new program sponsored by Reading Railroad. The program, made possible through a $48,000 gift from the Milton Cole family, will provide a book a month to every child born in Cass County in the next five years.

On Tuesday, mother and daughter were clad in matching gear — Fauleen in pink silk pajamas with pink fuzzy slippers and Isabella in pink, strawberry-decorated pajamas wrapped in a pink blanket.

“I was surprised that she was the first baby,” Fauleen admitted. “I figured someone already had a baby. I was just really focused on getting her out.”

Fauleen, a music teacher at Lincoln Middle School, said the birth went well. She will be discharged today, and she plans to go back to work at the end of February.

Fauleen said she wasn’t too surprised by the speed of her daughter’s arrival. Kaiden was born quickly as well.

“I just woke up, and I was in instant labor,” she said about her son’s birth.

The Luceros, who moved to Logansport in August, were excited about the new addition to their family. Especially Kaiden.

“Can I hold her? I want to hold my baby sister,” he said.

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com