SALISBURY — On the eighth day of Christmas, Aleecia Rollins of Kannapolis delivered Rowan County’s first baby of 2016.

King Dutch Antonio Rollins was born at 2:11 p.m. at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, weighing 7 pounds, 6.1 ounces and measuring 21 inches.

“He was supposed to be here Christmas Eve!” said Aleecia Rollins, reached by phone in her hospital room. “My Mom actually knew he was going to be a New Year’s baby.”

Aleecia, who was also born in Salisbury at the same hospital, arrived 10 days late, she said.

Smart Start Rowan representatives brought the family a gift basket and a plaque which will be engraved with his name, commemorating him as the first baby of 2016.

Aleecia said she was surprised to learn that her son was the first baby born this year. “I feel great!” she said.

Baby King is named after Aleecia’s father, the late Antonio Rollins Jr., known to his family and close friends as “Dutch.”

Antonio Rollins Jr. passed away when Aleecia was only four years old. Family members said Aleecia’s new son’s name will help keep her father’s memory alive.

Aleecia’s mother, Lakisha Weeks, said having her first grandchild born on New Year’s Day “makes it all the more special.”

“I just hope that every year when his birthday comes, he remembers this time and the special attention he got, that it’ll just make life more special for him,” Weeks said.

First Cabarrus baby

The first baby born at Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast arrived about as early as he possibly could.

According to hospital staff, Eric Guerrero Mejia was born two seconds after midnight on Jan. 1, 2016.

Weighing 7 pounds and 1 ounce and measuring 20 inches long, baby Eric is the son of Antonia Mejia Guerrero and Rene Guerrero Cruz.

Contact Hugh Fisher via the editor’s desk at 704-797-4244.