Carson couple welcomes first local baby of New Year

There were two New Year's Day babies born at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.

Jerraca Kohls gave birth to Kaitlyn Cassidy at 10:48 a.m. Tuesday. Kaitlyn weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. Jerraca and her husband, Brian, are from Carson City.

CTRMC's first baby, Juan Jose Lara Avila, was born at 4:35 a.m. The family was visiting relatives in Nevada when mom, Maira Avila, went into labor. The family is from San Francisco.

Kaitlyn is touted as Carson City's first local baby of the New Year.

The Kohls, married just a little more than one year, were beaming with pride Wednesday as they held and spoke of their new daughter.

"She was a little stubborn about coming out," Jerraca said about Kaitlyn's birth. "I guess she thought she was ready."

Jerraca, sitting on the hospital bed in her Tinker Bell pajamas, turns 18 today. She said her pregnancy with Kaitlyn went well and compared it to her first with son Blake.

"I had heartburn with both, but Blake, now 18 months, was born with much more hair, and just as dark - just like mom."

Born at 38 weeks, Kaitlyn's delivery went "perfectly," according to Dr. Ruth Tomita, who delivered her.

"It all went very well," she said.

"We have our boy and girl now," said Brian, 20. "Blake was a little confused yesterday (when visiting mom and sister in the hospital). He ran away from me.

"But I love being a daddy."

After nurses removed the security device from Kaitlyn's umbilical cord Wednesday afternoon, the family was ready to go home.

"We just want to make sure she has everything she needs and wants in life," Jerraca said of Kaitlyn's future.

"I just hope she finds the right person who will make her happy," added Brian.

Jerraca praised the staff at CTRMC for their kindness, good personalities, and was very pleased with Tomita.

"I would like to have her as a doctor anytime. She was just awesome," Jerraca said.

The Kohls are longtime residents of Carson City. Jerraca is the daughter of Kristi and the late Jay Turner of Dayton; Brian is the son of Glen and Sandy Mead of Carson City.

"She has a pretty good appetite," Jerraca said, while holding Kaitlyn in a pink and white sweater made by volunteers who put together a care package given by Mom's Clinic for new mothers.

"She doesn't really cry, it's more whimpers and whines," Brian said.

Brian is employed with Nissan of Reno; Jerraca is a manager at Carl's Jr. in Carson City.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.