The first bundle of joy for 2021 at Southwest Memorial Hospital was born into a Dove Creek family Jan. 5.

Chealsie Leppert gave birth to Samuel Chanson Jude Montgomery about 6:25 a.m. Tuesday. The 4-pound, 15-ounce baby boy is “healthy and handsome,” she said Tuesday.

“I was not thinking of it at the time, but having the first baby of the year is an extra bonus,” Leppert said. “He’s not a crier, and is making lots of little noises.”

The baby was born earlier than expected, she said, and came into the world quickly with labor lasting just a few hours.

“I was shopping the day before and had the urge to push. I knew then he wanted to be born,” said Leppert, 21.

About 1 a.m. that night, her husband, Charles Joseph Montgomery V, drove her to Southwest Memorial in Cortez from Dove Creek.

“He was trying not to speed, and I told him we were going to make it,” Leppert said. “We checked in around 3 a.m., and Sam arrived a few hours later. I’m exhausted. The staff was really sweet and caring.”

“We are all super-excited. Mom and baby are healthy,” said registered nurse Ren Smith, who assisted with the delivery. “He looks good in his onesie, which says “New Year’s Baby,” and is about to have his first bath.”

The new baby is being adopted by his paternal grandparents, Julia and Charles Montgomery IV, also of Dove Creek.

Leppert said the decision was made together by the extended family. She and her husband have another young child, and took a financial hit and job loss because of the pandemic.

“It has been tough to make ends meet. I grew up with the same history, being raised by my grandparents, and it was the best life I could have had,” Leppert said.

Julia and Charles Montgomery are “overjoyed” to adopt Samuel, and it has been a long dream of theirs to raise another child.

“I hope he grows up knowing how much he is loved. He will be amazing and comes from a long legacy of good, strong men,” said Julia, who is a second grade teacher in Dove Creek. Her husband is a retired oil field worker.

Having Samuel grow up in rural Dove Creek is ideal, Julia said, because he can grow up with friends throughout the school years and be supported by the traditional values of a small farming town.

“It is like a big family here. Everyone looks out for everyone,” she said.

Leppert plans to stay involved in Sam’s life, and feels he has a bright future.

“I hope he does not grow up too sheltered, and wants to explore and learn as much as he can,” she said.

The family put a lot of thought into the child’s name.

Samuel Chanson Jude Montgomery is a combination of Hebrew and French words, and translates to “Because I asked the Lord for him, a song of praise for this strong man.”

Correction: The first name of the grandfather adopting the child was corrected in this story.