The New Year has brought new life to an Opp family after Brandi Gatlin became the proud mother of the first baby to be born at Andalusia Regional Hospital in 2014.

Colby Lee Gatlin was welcomed into the world at 12:22 a.m. Friday, a full week after his due date, his mother said.

“He was due on my birthday, the day after Christmas,” Gatlin said. “But, I guess he just wasn’t ready.”

Colby finally was ready Friday morning, and was born soon after midnight, weighing six pounds, eight ounces. He was 20.5 inches long.

Gatlin, a former employee of Andalusia Regional Hospital, said Colby is her first child, adding she is looking forward to staying home with him for as long as she can.

Grandparents Terry and Sonya Gatlin of Opp and great-grandparents Ronald and Mary Jo Mooney of Union Grove were also on hand at the hospital Friday.

Gatlin said the family spent Thursday night watching the Allstate Sugar Bowl game between Alabama and Oklahoma, and, while they were let down by the Tide’s loss, Colby’s birth only hours later more than made up for the disappointment.

“I was almost back to Opp when her mom called and said, ‘You might want to come back,’” Terry Gatlin said with a smile.

Colby is the Gatlin’s first grandchild and the Mooney’s first great-grandchild.

As for the new mom, she said she is looking forward to a little much-needed sleep before taking home her new baby boy later this weekend, or early next week.