Bundles of joy arrive just in time

First of '14, last of '13 born at Toledo Hospital

Drevin Malik Coleman, left, was the first baby born in Toledo on Jan. 1, 2014, and Ivoriyona Arkell Young, right, was the last born in 2013. Coincidentally, both babies were born at Toledo Hospital.

THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER
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Drevin Malik Coleman, left, was the first baby born in Toledo on Jan. 1, 2014, and Ivoriyona Arkell Young, right, was the last born in 2013. Coincidentally, both babies were born at Toledo Hospital.

Both the first baby of 2014 and the last baby of 2013 were born at ProMedica Toledo Hospital this New Year’s holiday.

Michelle Gregg and Randal Coleman of Toledo welcomed their first child at 2:36 a.m. Wednesday to ring in the New Year.

Drevin Malik Coleman was born at 37 weeks weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces, and measuring 17 inches long.

His parents declined to be interviewed.

Ivoriyona Arkell Young, a baby girl weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and measuring 18.5 inches, was born at 10:06 p.m. Tuesday to LaTisha and Derrick Young of Toledo, the sixth child in the household.

“We just decided to try for another one. Now I’m done,” Mrs. Young, 32, said Wednesday.

Ivoriyona was the metro Toledo area’s last baby born in 2013, although her mother said she was trying to hold off giving birth to her until 2014.

Mr. Young, 34, has a 14-year-old son, Damonte Morris, from a previous relationship. The couple together has 11-year-old DeKazia, 9-year-old Derriuna, 6-year-old DeKyris, and 5-year-old Derrion.

“So we had three boys and two girls, so I kind of wanted a girl,” Mrs. Young said. “But the boys are easier. It didn’t matter either way.”

Ivoriyona Arkell Young was the last baby born in 2013 and will be a member of the family of Derrick and LaTisha Young, of Toledo.

Ivoriyona is named in part after her paternal grandmother, Ivory Young.

Mrs. Young said she tried to delay delivering her daughter until New Year’s Day. But Ivoriyona had other ideas as she was already a couple of days past her Dec. 29 due date. Mrs. Young went into labor at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“I tried, but I just couldn’t hold off anymore,” she said. “I thought someone else would have a baby [Tuesday] night, but they told me [Wednesday] morning it was official that I had the last baby of 2013. So I was happy about that.”

Mrs. Young said her baby girl’s appearance reminds her strongly of the first baby she had, a stillborn boy named DeKavious who was delivered Dec. 15, 2001.

“I wanted to have [Ivoriyona] on the 15th,” Mrs. Young said. “But the time [of day] was almost the same.”

Mrs. Young had delivered DeKavious at 9:48 p.m. She said she believes DeKavious’ influence has appeared not only in Ivoriyona’s looks, but also in her health.

“She doesn’t need to be in the nursery,” Mrs. Young said. “She stays in here with me.”

She added that Ivoriyona is already spoiled.

“With my other kids, I wasn’t able to do for them much,” Mrs. Young said, adding that the couple waited to have another child until they were financially able to do so. “But for her, I was able to shop a little more and it was fun.”

And having the baby in 2013 means the family can take a personal tax exemption for her this tax season instead of waiting another year. “That is something to think about,” Mrs. Young said. “It really didn’t matter, though.”

Mrs. Young said she expects she and Ivoriyona will go home today.

Contact Alexandra Mester: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.