Submitted photo John and Lindsay Kimec with their new baby Mia Theres Kimec. Mia was born 3 a.m. Monday, January 4, in Lafayette making her the 2021 New Year’s baby for the region.

NEW ULM — Mia Theres Kimec was born at 3 p.m. Monday, January 4, 2021, in Lafayette making her the first baby of the year born in this region.

Mia’s parents John and Lindsay Kimec had planned to have the baby at New Ulm Medical Center. They were surprised she was a new year’s baby because her due date was January 10, but little Mia had different plans.

Lindsay said she woke up at 2:17 a.m. Monday and Mia was born less than an hour later. Lindsay is no stranger to fast delivery.

After Mia’s birth, the mother and baby were transported to NUMC by EMS and both checked out fine.

Mia is her sixth kid. Her older children include 12-year-old Matthias, 10-year-old Lainey, 8-year-old Michael, 5-year-old Adele and 2-year-old Joseph.

Lindsay said Mia is not even her first home delivery. Adele was also born at home. In general, her labor time is getting quicker.

“I cannot complain,” Lindsay said. “Mia was probably the fastest.”

Lindsay was pregnant with Mia during an unusual time. Unlike her past pregnancies, this one occurred during a global pandemic.

“The pandemic didn’t make anything harder,” Lindsay said. “Some of the finer details of delivering in the hospital caused anxiety.”

Ultimately those concerns were unnecessary since Mia was a home birth. Home birth can present added difficulties, but the Kimecs were fortunate to have multiple EMTs living in Lafayette on their same block. Lindsay said one of their EMT neighbors worked in the birthing center at NUMC.

Lindsay said it is a delight having a big family. She and her husband both come from larger families. She said the older kids love having a new sister and have been very helpful.

Lindsay is uncertain if they will have any more kids. She said, “We just take them one at a time.”