East Texas

By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer

A Hawkins couple is celebrating the birth of their first child and the milestone of having the first baby of the New Year in Tyler. William Palmer and Kimberly McCauley welcomed Emily Grace Palmer at 12:05 a.m. Thursday. The baby girl weighed in at 6.79 pounds and is 19 inches long.

Emily Grace was expected to be a Christmas baby and the family had a special Christmas stocking waiting for her. Even though she was days late, the proud parents were ecstatic about the baby girl's timing.

"It's a wonderful coincidence," said Ms. McCauley.

Ms. McCauley first came to the hospital Tuesday and experienced more than 18 hours of labor before a caesarian section was performed. It was all worth it though, she said.

This is the first grandchild for Ms. McCauley's mother, Robin LaGrone, who said Emily Grace was perfect.

"She has only cried one time," she said. "And every time her parents utter, she looks for them."

Kimberly McCaulay and William Palmer, of Hawkins, hold Emily Grace Palmer on Thursday at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Emily Grace was born at 12:05 a.m. Thursday.
(Staff Photo By Coshandra Dillard)