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Maggie and Blake Samuels of Carlotta hold their newborn daughter.

Perhaps she was bashful, willing to let a more ambitious newcomer claim the prestige that attends a hospital’s first newborn of the New Year. But by the time 2024 had been around for nearly 11 hours, young Maple Samuels could wait no longer: She entered the world at 10:58 a.m. Monday, becoming St. Joseph Hospital’s first newborn baby of 2024.

Maggie and Blake Samuels of Carlotta welcomed their daughter, who weighed in at 7 lbs 4.8 oz and measured 20.5 inches.

Maple, pictured at right with her parents, is the Samuels’ fourth child, though her three siblings were all adopted, meaning she’s the couple’s first biological child, according to information provided by Providence Communications Manager Christian Hill.

Congratulations to the Samuels, and a hearty welcome to Humboldt County’s newest resident.