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By Shavana Abruzzo
Brooklyn Daily
He was born to be a star!
Adorable East New York baby boy Orane Clarke almost stole the spotlight from the ball drop at Times Square on Jan. 1 when he arrived just minutes later to cheers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where he created quite a buzz as Brooklyn’s first baby of 2013.
The doe-eyed darling arrived at the stroke of 12:12 am to cheers at the East Flatbush hospital, where he gently tipped the scales at 6-pounds 14-ounces and embraced his new stardom by snoozing peacefully in the arms of jubilant mom Nickesha, while doting dad Odane hovered close by.
Orane is the second child for the couple — already parents to 2-year-old Odane, Jr. — and his awesome addition is to rave for, says the family.
“I’m just overwhelmed, proud, and happy that we have another child!” beamed the happy mommy.
At New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Jungmin Oh and Benjamin Brown also had reason to pop the cork! They rang in the New Year by welcoming their bundle of cuteness — baby girl Gena, weighing 7-pounds 2-ounces and measuring 19.5 inches in length — as the clock struck 12:54 am.
Jungmin, who hails from the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea made popular by pop star Psy, and hubby Benjamin say they’re just happy it’s all over — or just beginning, depending upon your perspective!
“We didn’t care whether she was the first baby of the year, or anything like that,” said the delighted dad. “We just were hoping that she would be happy and healthy — we can’t think of a better way to start 2013.”
Precisely 22 minutes later, the festivities continued in full swing at Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park, where Kensington mom Shamima Hossein had staffers celebrating at 1:16 am when she gave birth to the hospital’s first newborn of the year — a beautiful, bouncing girl, weighing 5-pound 10-ounces, but as yet without a name in keeping with cultural rites.
We’re told baby, and mom and dad Anwar, who already have four children, are doing just fine.
Father Time didn’t forget Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center at Brookdale Plaza, where lil’ Yomil Vallejo made his dazzling, 7-pounds 2-ounce debut at 4:35 am, becoming the year’s first baby there, while delivering glad tidings to thrilled parents mom Lorenza Rojas and dad Clarito Vallejo.
Courier Life and Community Newspaper Group extend hearty congratulations to all of Brooklyn’s 2013 babies and their families.
Reach reporter Shavana Abruzzo at sabruzzo@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2529. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/BritShavana