Tim Willert
GLENDALE -- Little Liana Karapetyan didn't celebrate New Year's Day
until well after midnight.
Liana, a 6-pound, 9-ounce girl with jet black hair, arrived at 2:42
a.m. at Glendale Memorial Hospital, making her the first baby of 2001 to
be born in the Glendale area.
Her parents, Astgik Manashyan and Mike Karapetyan of Glendale, were
short on words but long on smiles.
"She's a very special gift," said Astgik, 21, who went into labor at
9:11 p.m. Sunday. "We're great together."
While mom posed for pictures with Liana, the baby's 24-year-old father
handed out chocolate booties wrapped in pink foil to visiting family
members.
"I'm very excited," Mike said. "Maybe it's good luck for us."
Liana, who wore a T-shirt with Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center printed on the front, was presented with a hand-made New Year's
Day 2001 stocking from the hospital's labor and deliver nursing staff.
She also received a pink beanie, silver-plated spoon and a matching
booty and blanket set from the hospital for her milestone birth.
"It went very well," said Dr. John F. Cabrera, who delivered Liana
because Astgik's regular doctor was not available. "It was her first baby
and she did very well."
