Yuma's first 2013 baby: It's a boy

Yuma's Baby New Year is a tiny, punctual little man with a full head of dark hair.

Raul Eliel Gonzalez Curiel joined the world at 8:26 a.m. Tuesday at Yuma Regional Medical Center, making him Yuma's first native for 2013. He joins mom Evelyna Curiel, big brother Josue and extended family.

Evelyna reported an easy pregnancy and relatively brief — about five-hour — labor. Her pains lasted only about an hour and a half of that. Proving that sweet things come in small packages, Raul checked in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces and 19.25 inches in length. He was born one day before his due date, healthy and pink.

As of about 1:30 Tuesday afternoon, Raul was in good company on his fortuitous birthday, with two more babies born at YRMC within an hour of him.

Young Raul was content on his first day, snug in a blue fleece Winnie the Pooh one-piece and swaddled in blue blankets, surrounded by family while he slept. Josue, 11, reached over to stroke Raul's soft swirls of black hair while he nestled in the arms of his great-aunt and Evelyna's birthing coach, Rosario.

“He's been wanting a brother for many years,” said the boys' mother, through an interpreter, “so he finally got his wish.”

As if on cue, Raul squirmed a little and the corners of his bitsy cupid's bow mouth turned up, like a smile.

Hillary Davis can be reached at hdavis@yumasun.com or 539-6857. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSHillaryDavis or on Twitter at @YSHillaryDavis.