Whiteside's first baby of 2009 arrives Jan. 2

STERLING - Devin Scott Thies is Whiteside County's first New Year's baby. Born at 1:23 a.m. Friday, the 6-pound, 5-ounce boy arrived a month ahead of schedule, giving Dixon parents Katie and Adam Thies, both 23, a hectic holiday. Katie's contractions began early Thursday, and she was taken to CGH Medical Center. For the first few hours, labor progressed easily. Then Devin got stuck in his mom's pelvis, so doctors had to perform an emergency C-section. "He should have been born on the first, but we had a little snag," Katie said. Adam stayed with Katie the entire time. "Everyone was really nice here and let me be there with her the whole way, to make sure she was OK," he said. Three weeks before Devin was born, Katie began to feel contractions and started dilating. Doctors were able to stop the contractions and send her home. "I was getting to a point where all I cared about was that he was OK," she said. "Luckily, all signs were pointing to things being just fine." The Thieses, who put off celebrating their first wedding anniversary on Oct. 20, plan a modest celebration when Katie and Devin come home. More important, "When we get home, we're all going to get some sleep," Katie said. "It's been a crazy few days." When asked who Devin resembles most, both parents agreed: "He looks like his daddy," Katie said. Devin joins his big sister, Bailey, 6.