The first baby of 2018 to arrive at Mercy Regional Medical Center came just 30 minutes after the clock struck midnight.

Born at 12:31 a.m. Monday, Ariel Skye Vaughn came in at 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 19 inches long.

“I was a little shocked,” said Natalia Vaughn, Ariel’s mother, on receiving the news that her baby was the first child born at Mercy in the new year. “But it’s exciting.”

Matt Vaughn, Ariel’s father, said the couple had a due date of Dec. 30. However, that date was pushed back, and the family spent two days at Mercy.

“She took her time,” Matt said.

Ariel is the first child for Matt, a Durango native, and Natalia, who moved to Durango in 2007. The family, which still lives in Durango, planned to spend Monday night at Mercy.

David Bruzzese, spokesman for Mercy, said the hospital averages 800 to 1,000 births a year. In 2016, a total of 937 babies were born at Mercy. And in 2017, 865 babies were born.

Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez was waiting Tuesday for its first baby of the year.

According to a report by KUSA-TV, Colorado’s first baby of the year came at Monday 12:01 a.m. at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs. Baby girl Isla Beth McLellan was born at 6 pounds and 2 ounces, a few days early. Isla is Tamra and her husband Brian’s first child. Tamra is a fifth-grade teacher, KUSA said.

jromeo@durangoherald.com