Swedish’s first baby of the new year and the first baby born in the medical center’s centennial year was born at 6:41 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2010. Grace Weber, the new daughter of Courtney and Dave Weber of West Seattle made her early morning arrival at Swedish’s First Hill Campus, weighing in at 6 pounds, 15.6 ounces and 18.5 inches long.

Having their first baby so early in the new year was an unexpected blessing, according to the Webers.

Recognizing the new year’s baby is an annual tradition at Swedish, but it is even more special this year since 2010 represents the medical center’s 100th anniversary.

Swedish was founded in 1910 by Dr. Nils Johanson, a Swedish immigrant, surgeon and the father of Kitty Nordstrom. In a memoir about her father, Kitty recalled the first baby born at Swedish in 1910. Being one of the few to have a car at the time, her father picked up a laboring mother on Queen Anne Hill and drove her to Swedish to deliver the baby.

Since then, more than 200,000 babies have been born at Swedish. In fact, more babies are born at Swedish each year than at any other medical center in Washington state. There were more than 7,400 born between Swedish’s First Hill and Ballard campuses in 2009. Swedish also has a top-notch Perinatal Medicine program and one of just a handful of Level-III Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Washington state.

For having the first baby of Swedish’s centennial year, the Webers received a newborn gift basket from the Swedish Auxiliary, a baby receiving blanket from Swaddle Designs (www.swaddledesigns.com), and a manicure-pedicure set from ButterLondon (www.butterlondon.com). Swaddle Designs – a Seattle-based company founded by a labor and delivery nurse – donated 40 blankets to Swedish so each baby born on New Year’s day at the medical center will receive one. ButterLondon is a Seattle-based nail salon chain and nail beauty products company.

In addition, Grace – and every baby born at the First Hill or Ballard campus throughout 2010 – will receive a souvenir ‘I'm a Swedish Baby’ one-piece.

The Webers praised their OB/GYN Emily Norland, M.D., and the nursing staff at Swedish. “We really like Swedish. Everyone was very helpful and the room was great,” said Courtney Weber.