Newton County's first baby of 2008, Franklin Robert Davis, was born a healthy 6 pounds 5 ounces at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday in the Newton Medical Birthcare Center.

By Thursday morning, most of the pain from the previous night's labor had receded from the mind of first-time mother Erin Davis, 16, who had eyes only for her baby boy.

"I was kind of scared," said Erin of the labor which thankfully lasted only for 45 minutes.

Of being a new mother Erin said, "It's a happy feeling."

With a thin thatch of brown hair and blue eyes, Franklin was the center of attention in a room full of adoring females.

Erin said she was surprised when she went into labor as she was only 37 weeks along and wasn't expecting to go into labor until Jan. 17.

"He was putting on so much pressure," said Gail Kendricks, Erin's mother and Franklin's maternal grandmother. "He wanted to bring in the New Year."

The mother of three daughters herself, Gail said she was delighted to finally have a baby boy to spoil.

"She had some incentive to have the baby born on her sister's birthday," said Gail of Erin's final push which resulted in Franklin being born one minute before midnight on her sister's birthday.

Franklin was delivered by Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr. Cathy Larrimore who practices in Newton County.

 Franklin received his first name from his paternal grandfather, the late Calvin Franklin Millwood and his middle name of Robert from his maternal grandfather, the late Robert Michael Davis.

Franklin will be raised by Erin and her boyfriend Bobby Daniels.

When Erin and Franklin are released on Saturday they will return home with Gail. Erin will continue her education through Faith Academy's home school program. Erin said she plans to become a Spanish language interpreter.

According to Sharon Barbour, director of publicity and advertising for Newton Medical Center, approximately 800 babies are born each year in the hospital's Birthcare Center which has eight Labor Delivery Recovery suites.