Whiteside’s first baby of 2010 born early Friday

STERLING – Having the New Year's baby is old hat for Catrina Hudson.

The 24-year-old gave birth to Alayna Marie Wargo at 6:14 a.m. Friday at CGH Medical Center.

Alayna, 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 21.5 inches long, was the first baby born in Whiteside County in 2010.

In 2004, Hudson's son, Kylen Schwab, was born on Jan. 4, the first local baby of 2004.

"It's cool, it's good for them. Kylen loves the idea that he was the first baby of the year," Hudson said.

Kylen, who lives with his dad, Kurt Schwab, was happy about having a baby sister, but he kept his distance when he visited Mom and sis at CGH.

"Maybe he thinks that she's taking a little something away from him ... because he was fine with it until she was born," Hudson said. "... Kylen maybe thinks she's taken his fame."

Hudson and her fiancé, Sean Wargo, 27, live with Hudson's other sons – Tyler Pace, 10, and Karsyn Schwab, 2.

"Karsyn is already protective of her [Alayna]," Wargo said.

When they took Alayna home Saturday, Wargo, a certified nursing assistant at Coventry Village, wore a new ring that said "Dad" as he held Alayna, his first child. Wargo nearly was a New Year's baby – he was born Dec. 31, 1982.

The couple had been to the hospital four times that week – she was having contractions, but wasn't dilated.

Friday morning, the contractions started again, but Wargo was asleep with his head in her lap, and she thought he was just bumping into her stomach.

She moved him away, but the contractions kept coming.

They rushed to the hospital, and Alayna arrived 45 minutes later.

Hudson has polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can cause a miscarriage, so she spent most of this pregnancy in bed, following doctors' orders to take it easy.

But Alayna was due Dec. 28, so for the last 2 weeks, Hudson and Wargo spent many hours walking at Northland Mall or Wal-Mart, hoping to induce labor.

Alayna had her own timetable, though. 

"She wanted to be in the spotlight," Hudson said.