Newtown’s First Baby Arrives Jan. 2

By Tanjua Damon

Newtown’s first baby of the year did not quite make the New Years mark, but his laid-back personality probably would not have fit in with the hoopla of all festivities and celebrations.

Brendan Campbell Moline entered the world at 7:42 pm on January 2 at Danbury Hospital weighing in at 8 pounds 9 ounces; he was 21.5 inches long.

Brendan was the first Newtown baby born in 2001, making him the winner of The Newtown Bee’s annual first baby contest.

LaNae, 36, and Gary, 35, Moline of Newtown are the proud parents of Brendan. He is their first child together. Mr Moline has another child who is 14.

Doctors expected Brendan to make his entrance into the world on December 30 or 31, but he delayed his debut until January 2, after Mrs Moline spent 22-plus hours in labor waiting for his arrival. The Molines say the  wait was well worth it.

LaNae and Gary Moline did not exactly rush to the hospital when Mrs Moline went into labor on the evening of New Year’s Day. They waited until the following morning, when Mrs Moline had a doctor’s appointment. The doctor recommended they head to the hospital, but the couple made a stop at the Post Office before arriving to the hospital.

So far Brendan seems to take a similar laid-back approach to life. He is very mellow and mild mannered. He does not make much of a fuss unless of course he is hungry.

“He sleeps pretty well,” Mrs Moline said. “I was expecting major, major crying fits. He cries when he’s hungry, then he usually goes back to sleep.”

“He likes to be held. It definitely settles him down, as opposed to laying him down somewhere to fall asleep,” Mr Moline added.

The Molines knew they were having a boy before Brendan came into the world, but his name was not decided until about 5:30 am on the day he came home (Thursday, January 4).

“We didn’t name him until 5:30 in the morning on the day we were coming home,” she said. “Brendan, we just liked the way it sounded.”

Mrs Moline says her biggest challenge is feeding Brendan, since she is breast-feeding and this is her first baby.

“I’m getting the feeding down,” she said. “I don’t mind getting up.”

Mr Moline has not had too many difficulties adjusting to the arrival of his son, just helping out more around the house. But he enjoys Brendan being home.

“He’s good. He’s definitely interesting,” Mr Moline said. “I’ve taken over a little more of keeping the house clean. There’s really no huge adjustment, just that now we have him here.”

The Molines admit the best thing is being home because at the hospital there is a lot going on all the time.

“It was a big relief getting home,” Mr Moline said. “At the hospital everyone goes in and out all the time.”

Mrs Moline played a lot of music for Brendan while she was pregnant, particularly with her commute to the city. Brendan continues to enjoy all sorts of music from the theme music from the Hartford Wolfpacks and Baby Bach to Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Anthony.

Brendan already has some personality and character.

“He’s going to be tough. He’s strong,” Mrs Moline said. “I think he’s going to be strong-willed and stubborn. He’s very snuggly.”

Some advice the Molines offer to expecting parents is to bring snacks for dad while mom is in delivery and start preparing for the arrival of your new baby early because nine months goes by quickly.

Mr Moline is a fire lieutenant with the City of Danbury and grew up in the Danbury/New Fairfield area. Mrs Moline is a speech language pathologist and audiologist at group homes in New York City. She grew up in Illinois.