Yellowknife (Jan 03/07) - Room 210 at Stanton Territorial Hospital was host to the Northwest Territories' newest citizen on Jan. 1.

With a sneeze and a yawn, the territory's first New Year's baby laid quietly on a bed while her mother answered a few questions for Yellowknifer.

Ann Kochon-Orlias, of the tiny community of Colville Lake, still hasn't decided yet on a name for her new daughter.

"It's between Jenna-Lee or Shavonne," she said.

Kochon-Orlias was expecting her daughter on Jan. 1 -- that was the due date given to her by her doctor. She's been in Yellowknife since Dec. 15, just in case the baby came early.

"I missed Christmas and New Year's," she said.

Weighing 7lbs, 15 ounces, her daughter was born at 5:06 a.m., Monday.

"It was kind of hard," Kochon-Orlias said of the birth.

The thirty-something mother has eight children back home so she's been through this before.

In Kochon-Orlias' room a large gift basket sits in the corner with a teddy bear attached to it.

"The hospital always gives a basket to the New Years' baby," said Dana Miller, the unit clerk in obstetrics.

The year 2006 saw 647 babies born, a couple of whom were born on New Year's Eve. That number is up by nine from 2005. At press time, the new year has seen four NWT babies born in 2007.

"I'm just glad," Kochon-Orlias. "I want to go home now."

Kochon-Orlias said she thinks she'll be going back home either today or tomorrow, where she said her children are excited to meet their new little sister.

She said her new daughter will have a two-year old sister for a playmate when they get home.