A little more than 30 hours into the new year, Tahley Renee Dobrowsky made her way into the world at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby.

The daughter of Shayna Dobrowsky of Troy, Tahley’s timing earned her the local title of “New Year’s Baby” for 2010. She was born at 6:15 a.m. on Jan. 2.

It was the earliest birth of a New Year’s baby over the past four years.

Cathy Wolfe, Nursing Services vice president at St. John’s, said “we look forward to each one but there is something very special about the first baby of each year, and the way the whole community awaits the arrival.”

Dr. Jana Hall of Northwest Community Health Center was the attending physician. The baby weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19 1/2 inches in length.

Tahley joins her big sister, Zoe, 2, who said she is looking forward to playing with her little sister.

Wolfe said St. John’s delivered 107 babies last year. It is typical to deliver around 100 babies on an annual basis.

With the distinction of the “New Year’s Baby” honor comes various gifts – and Zoe was more than happy to help her little sister open them.

Hospital and auxiliary members at St. John’s provided the family with a swing, case of diapers, gift basket and an afghan created especially for the New Year’s arrival. Other donations came in from Dr. Anne Camber (car seat), Pamida (high chair), Glacier Bank and First Montana Bank (savings bonds), Libby Clinic (gift bag that included baby monitor and portable infant exerciser) and Northwest Community Health Center (bouncy seat with toys).

The second baby of the year followed at 1:03 a.m., on Jan. 3 – a daughter born to Tim and Kasie Kim of Libby.