Hospital welcomes 1st baby of 2022

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s first baby of 2022 came on the second day of the new year.

At 8:38 a.m. on Sunday, Giovanni and Faalo Nauer of Juneau welcomed 6-pound-9-ounce Greyson Tafia Nauer into the world.

“The middle name is his late uncle that passed,” said Faalo Nauer from the hospital in a phone interview. “My husband’s brother passed on the last day of 2018, so I was hoping to have him on the 31st to honor the uncle, it was a name that we planned. When we found out it was a boy, we already had a name for the middle name.”

Greyson joins three sisters and one brother —Ginayah, Geradene, Giolanni and Giovanni Jr.

“All of my kids have G names,” Faalo Nauer said.

She said the first baby of the new year distinction came as a surprise.

[A boatload of joy for first 2019 baby]

“No, I had no idea. I thought a baby was born on the new year,” Faalo Nauer said. “I was surprised. I was like really?”

Jan. 2 isn’t especially late for the first baby of the new year in Juneau. Last year, the first baby of the year was born on Jan. 5. The first baby of 2020 was born on New Year’s Day. Like Greyson, the first baby of 2019 was born on Jan. 2.

Greyson was first by a comfortable margin, according to hospital staff.

Lauren Beason, obstetrics director for Bartlett Regional Hospital, said in an email the second baby of the new year had not yet been born as of Monday morning. Additionally, a baby born just after midnight on Dec. 31 was born 24 hours too early for the distinction.

Dr. Lindy Jones, an emergency department provider for the hospital, made a boat-shaped rocker filled with goodies for the Nauers to take home.

“It’s nice, it’s a nice gift,” Nauer said. “I love it, and I know my son will love it. I’m grateful for them to come up with something like this. I was surprised when I saw it.”

• Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)308-4895 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt