Donovan went into labour at 11:59 p.m. New Years Eve - and exactly 12 hours later, at 11:59 a.m., she gave birth to the first child born at the Inuvik Regional Hospital in 2003.

"Me and my boyfriend said 'Yeah, we'll have a New Year's baby,' but when it came it was a surprise," said the new mother.

The eight pound, one ounce healthy baby boy has been named Kaneda. The name was chosen by his father, Wayne Elanik.

"We didn't want an average name," said Donovan.

Both parents are from Inuvik and the mother said she has already received tons of free stuff for her first born child.

"We got a bunch of bathing stuff, diapers, toys, clothes, candles, blankets, $100," she said.

Enjoy the freebies

The mother of the 2002 New Year's baby said Donovan should take advantage of all the free goodies she will receive.

"Enjoy it," said Marlene Nasogaluak of Tuktoyaktuk.

"I got lots of stuff for the baby and for myself and it lasted right until he was five or six months.

"Some of the things, like the clothes, I still have."

Nasogaluak said little Jason Jr., born on Jan. 2, 2002, is growing up very rapidly and learning to take his first few steps.

"He's not really walking yet. He's using his walker but on New Year's Day he took four steps all by himself," she said.

He has also started to say a few words, such as 'mom', 'dad', 'baba' (bottle), 'no' and 'bad'.

"It's been an exciting year. He's my first boy and I've learned lots about him.

"It's going to be even more fun when he gets a bit older," laughed Nasogaluak, who also has three young daughters ranging between the ages of two and six.