New Year's baby makes surprise debut

Lindsey Sanders cuddles and kisses her newborn daughter, Mya Sanders, who was one of the first Bedford County babies born in 2009. (T-G Photo by Jaime Welsh) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Beautiful babies are born every day, and holidays are no exception when it's time for a new life to begin.

On New Year's Day, Amber and Justin Foster, of Shelbyville, got a huge surprise when their then-unborn son decided to make a dramatic entrance into the world.

Austin Dalton Foster was born at 7:51 p.m. January 1 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, and is believed to be the first baby born to a Bedford County resident in 2009.

"He wanted to be born on New Year's," laughed Roni Moore, the newborn's grandmother. "His father's birthday is on New Year's Eve, so I guess Austin just decided to steal the spotlight from his dad by being born on New Year's Day."

Baby Austin was born 6 weeks premature at 4 lbs., 13.6 oz., and was being held in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a precaution.

"He's doing well and we are hoping he can come home today," said Moore Tuesday. Because the baby was in ICU, the Times-Gazette does not yet have a photo of the baby.

For Lindsey and Bobby Sanders, of Shelbyville, their New Year's celebration was completed with the arrival of their fourth daughter, Mya Starr Sanders.

With dark brown hair, little Mya was born on Jan. 5 at 10:40 a.m., weighing 6 lbs., 15 oz., and measuring 18 1/2 inches.

A mother's love knows no boundaries, and this was evident when Lindsey Sanders looked upon her newborn baby's sweet face, memorizing every detail.

"I just love the way a newborn baby feels ... they're so soft and they smell so nice," said Sanders.

Since Mya's birth on Monday, Sanders said that the newborn has slept the majority of the time and had fussed hardly at all.

"She's been so very good ... she hasn't cried very much yet," said Sanders.

While Sanders' three other children have not yet met their newest sibling, Lindsey knows her daughters well and can predict their reactions.

"The older two are just very happy that it's a girl and not a boy ... the youngest one will be a little jealous," said Sanders with a smile. "She just turned 1 and she's definitely a daddy's girl, so she's going to be wanting that attention back from Bobby."

But are there any plans for a little brother in the future for the Sanders' four young daughters?

"Oh, no," Sanders laughed. "We love our children but I think we're through having babies ... four is plenty."

With their newborn daughter, the Sanders now have another beautiful baby to love, cherish, and spoil a little bit.