Jaffrey baby the first at a local hospital in 2023

Jaffrey couple Chelsie and Jeffrey Thibault welcomed their new baby a half hour into the new year Sunday, the first birth reported by a local hospital in 2023.

Cayson Thibault was born at 12:36 a.m. at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, right on time at 39 weeks and 5 days, according to the hospital. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces and is 21 inches long.

"He's our little rainbow baby," said Chelsie, 30. "We had a miscarriage last fall, so he's our little rainbow gift from our miscarriage."

Chelsie, a tax collector for the town of Jaffrey, said she and Jeffrey, who works at Heart Line Stove Shop in Jaffrey, arrived at the hospital around 10:40 p.m. Saturday.

She said she was having contractions when the New Year's ball dropped in New York City.

"I looked at my husband and said, 'I'm sorry, I can't kiss you right now, but probably in a couple more minutes,' " Chelsie said. "And then [after delivery], I was able to give him his New Year's Eve kiss."

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Cayson is the Thibaults' second son, and Chelsie said his 4-year-old brother Jaxson is "super excited" to have a newborn baby brother. She added that the siblings met over a video call Sunday morning. She said Cayson is the fourth grandchild on her side of the family.

"Just like when Jaxson was born, it was amazing," said Jeffrey, 30.

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Trisha Nail can be reached at 603-352-1234, ext. 1436, or tnail@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @byTrishaNail.

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