(Mallory and Lance Walkup spend time with their new baby Wyatt on Monday at Sutter Maternity Center. Photo by Johanna Miller/Pajaronian)
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — As many Santa Cruz County residents celebrated ringing in the New Year, two new lives were just beginning at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center in Santa Cruz.
Anissa Samudio of Watsonville gave birth to a 5-pound, 3-ounce boy named Elijah at 2:57 a.m. Monday. Just a couple of hours later, Mallory Walkup of Santa Cruz gave birth to her son Wyatt, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, at 4:42 a.m.
For Samudio, special birthdays seem to run in her family. According to Elijah’s grandmother Maria, Anissa was the final baby born in the county in her birth year, even being featured in the newspaper herself as a newborn.
She says she is “very excited” about starting her life as a new mom.
Both moms weren’t expecting to give birth exactly on New Year’s Day. Samudio’s due date was Jan. 10, and Walkup’s on Jan. 15.
Walkup had been at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center since Thursday — it began as just a check-up, but staff recommended she be admitted. Lo and behold, the baby came early.
“I can’t even really put it into words,” Walkup said. “There’s all this build-up and then suddenly [Wyatt] is finally here. It’s amazing.”
