Kelowna

New Year's Day will hold a new significance for Leah and Ryan Samis.

The 26-year-old Kelowna woman gave birth to the Okanagan's first baby of 2008.

Jake Samis came into the world at 12:24 New Year's morning at Kelowna General Hospital. He weighed in at seven pounds 13 ounces.

He missed being the first baby born in the province by four minutes.

That honour went to a baby born at 12:20 a.m. at BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre in Vancouver.

Leah Samis gave birth about a week ahead of schedule. She was due January 6.

"When we found out the due date as soon as they told us we were pregnant, we always thought about this that there was an off chance," says Ryan Samis.

"We thought she would go to the due date. We never thought it would be at 12:24 on New Year's Day."

Leah went into labour about 7 a.m. New Year's Eve.

"She was in labour for 17 hours. She was a real trooper through it all."

Jake is the first baby for the couple.

Penticton's New Year's baby was born at about 9:40 a.m. at Penticton Regional Hospital.

Kristian Smart was six pounds seven ounces.