Yellowknife (Jan 03/07) - Enjoying birthday cake and family, the New Year's baby from 2006 probably doesn't realize how special he is.

Chad Mitchell was born on New Year's Day last year, and was Yellowknife's first baby.

"He's learned a lot, he's taking steps now," his mother Sheila Anaittuq said of her son.

Originally expected to be born on Christmas Eve, Chad came out at 1:54 p.m. on Jan. 1 weighing 8 lbs. and 11 oz. at birth.

Upon returning home to Kugaaruk, Nunavut, Anaittuq said they were recognized as celebrities of sorts.

"Our picture was in the newspaper, and people showed it to us," she said.

Anaittuq is the mother of two boys and two girls as well, and said that Chad Mitchell is usually calm and has adjusted well to his family. She said he only gets cranky and loud when he's not feeling well.

And his first words? The most important word he'll ever need.

"I think it was Mom. He can say a few words," she said.

Anaittuq arrived in Yellowknife on Nov. 27 last year waiting for Chad Mitchell to be born. She therefore missed out on Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

This year she not only had Christmas and New Year's to celebrate, but her son's birthday as well.

"We're going to have dinner," Anaittuq said from her home in Kugaaruk on Dec. 29. "Maybe just family and friends (will be there)."