New Year's baby arrives at 4:02 a.m.

Michelle Sixsmith and Mike Carneiro knew their firstborn would be special.

They just didn't think she'd earn extra attention as the New Year's baby.

Maya Clotilde Carneiro entered the world at 4:02 a.m. on Sunday at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, earning the honour of being the first baby born in Thunder Bay in 2012.

Weighing in at eight pounds, nine ounces, the infant's proud father said it wasn't something they were all that worried about, despite knowing little Maya could come at any time.

"We're just happy that she's healthy, first and foremost. Yeah, it's kind of neat, I guess," he said. "We weren't really planning on it or anything. It just seemed to happen.

As new parents, the couple spent much of Sunday getting used to the idea.

It's a prospect that excites them, Carneiro said.

"It's kind of foggy right now," he said. "It was kind of a long night, last night. But it's good. It'll be nice to get her home and settled in and into a routine and watch her grow up."