Anthony Cecelio Irizarry-Rivera was born at 2:02 a.m. on New Year’s morning. That made him the first baby born in Temple in 2008.

At 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 20.5 inches long, young Anthony came into the world healthy and happy. Tuesday afternoon, Temple’s Baby New Year could be found at Scott & White Hospital, napping in the arms of his mother. She was beaming with joy and said over and over that she was “very, very happy.”

“Thank you, my Jesus, my baby is good,” she said.

Anthony is Ms. Natal’s fourth child and her second son. She has two daughters, 14 and 2 years old, and a 7-year-old son.

Ms. Natal spoke little English. She spoke mainly Spanish but peppered her speech with enough English to convey that Anthony was an easy birth compared to her older children.

Anthony’s father, Cecelio Irizarry, was on hand on Tuesday. He, too, spoke mostly in Spanish but his broad smile spoke volumes. Was he proud? “Yes, I am,” he said. “This is my second baby.” One girl and one boy, he said later.

kchandler@temple-telegram.com