The Bronx’s population increased by one at exactly midnight on New Year’s Day.
Montefiore Jack D. Weiler Hospital on Eastchester Road rang in the new year by delivering Mauryce Keno Edwards-Williams, the first baby to be born in the borough in 2025.
The hospital congratulated the baby’s family on social media.
“Montefiore Einstein couldn’t be happier to kick off the New Year with the birth of baby boy Mauryce Edwards-Williams at exactly 12:00am today, Jan. 1, 2025,” Montefiore posted online.
The baby’s parents, Vanessa McKayhan and Devin Edwards-Williams, told the Bronx Times that their son’s delivery—followed by the celebration—was a “wow experience.”
McKayhan caused much anticipation and excitement at the hospital when she went into labor on New Year’s Eve.
“The nurse was like, ‘this could be the one, we could have a New Year’s Baby,’” Edwards-Williams said.
Mauryce arrived just a few seconds into the New Year. The proud parents and hospital staff went into celebration mode shortly after.
They were decked out in New Year’s glasses and festive headbands as they posed for photos. Mauryce even wore a “Happy New Year” onesie for the occasion.
The newest Bronxite weighed just over 7 pounds and measured 20 inches long. The couple chose the name ‘Mauryce,’ since it is the middle name of the newborn’s father.
Just like their newborn son, McKayhan and Edwards-Williams were both born in the Bronx. The pair, who were also raised in the borough, met as work colleagues in 2020, both working for the Bronx Board of Elections.
“ He just made me laugh all the time,” McKayhan said.
Edwards-Williams interrupted, “It was my tight jeans,” he said as they both laughed.
It all came together for McKayhan and Edwards-Williams in 2024. The couple got engaged, McKayhan got pregnant, and now they’re headed into 2025 as the proud parents of a healthy son.
“ For the year to end and begin like this has been such a blessing,” said Edward-Williams. “We’ve been getting a lot of love and we have a lot of support via our families. It’s just been a real blessing to have this bestowed upon us.”
McKayhan said the first few days of motherhood have been tiring, but worth the loss of sleep now that she has finally met her son.
“ This is the little one that’s been kicking me all this time!” she said.
Mauryce’s arrival marks the beginning of a an entirely new generation called “Generation Beta,” babies born between 2025 and 2039.
The generation grew almost immediately as first-time parents Saiful Alom and Mahfuza Tasmine welcomed their baby girl, Aliha Alom, born at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi at 12:41 a.m., weighing 4 pounds 3.9 ounces and measuring 17.3 inches long. They reside in the Morris Park community.
A few hours later, at 6:38 a.m., Gilberto Morales and Janet Navarrette-Carrasco welcomed their newest addition, baby girl Zoe Adaly Morales-Navarrette, at NYC Health Hospitals/North Central Bronx. This is their fourth child and they live nearby in the Norwood neighborhood.
Meanwhile, across the city, twin girls were born in Brooklyn at 12:01 a.m. and 12:02 a.m. to parents Sheneece Crumbie and Jordan Tomlinson at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. The girls weighed 6 pounds, 13.9 ounces and 5 pounds, 15.4, respectively.
Queens couple Naomi and Jacob Gottesman celebrated the birth of their son at 12:14 a.m. at Tisch Hospital in Manhattan, a full eight days late, but right on time for 2025.
