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New York City Welcomes 1st Baby Of 2021, Jaxel Rodriguez

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some families are a celebrating the new year with new babies born at the start of 2021.

CBS2's Cindy Hsu has more on the "new" New Yorkers.

Jaxel Rodriguez is believed to be the Big Apple's first baby of 2021. He was born at midnight at Coney Island Hospital to Ivett Rodriguez and Antonio Guilbert. Hsu spoke with Susan Mikus, the hospital's associate director of nursing.

"Mom and baby are doing wonderfully. She wanted to talk to you guys, but she is with the baby in the room and she's very tired," Mikus said.

Baby Jaxel has two big brothers waiting at home, Jadiel and Jandel. Whenever a baby is born at the hospital, the staff plays a lullaby, and this year it was needed more than ever.

"There were tears throughout the hospital when the lullaby was played because everybody just knew that there was goodness and there was happiness and it brought such joy," Mikus said.

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Hsu later met Briella Tahlor, who was born at Stony Brook University Hospital at 7 pounds, 1 ounce, just one minute after midnight. Parents Nicole and Brian were watching the ball drop on the hospital television.

"The ball was on in the background and it was counting down and all the nurses and the doctors, they all screamed 'Happy New Year!' and then seconds later here she was. It's pretty incredible," Brian Tahlor said.

Nicole Tahlor said 2021 has already brought so much to look forward to.

"I'm over the moon. She's perfect. She's not happy right now, but ...," Nicole said with a smile.

And at home, Briella has her big sister, Madison, waiting, along with their rescue puppy, Coop.

Both babies should head home in the next few days.

Congratulations!

CBS2's Cindy Hsu contributed to this report

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