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Just a few hours after the clock hit midnight and the calendar turned to 2022, Kreshamber Pitts and Brandon Lane of Andalusia welcomed their new baby girl to the world.

Goddess Royale Lane was born as the first baby of 2022 at Andalusia Health on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 3:16 a.m. According to hospital records, Goddess weighed 6 pounds and 15 ounces and was 20 1/4 inches long.

“She came as a complete surprise to us. I was supposed to be induced Monday, Jan. 3, and she was not due until Sunday, Jan. 9. I guess Goddess decided she wanted to be a New Year’s baby. This one was a little more difficult than my other two children, but I enjoyed the journey. Childbirth was a painful experience, but she is going to be my last one,” Pitts said.

She added that she and her new daughter were released from the hospital on Monday.

“I tried to be different when I was choosing all of my kids’ names, and I pondered on it for this one. It took a minute for us to come up with the name Goddess Royale. It’s a huge blessing to have a baby to love on. I was really surprised, and it was like a wow moment. It was a shock to me, but I think it’s pretty cool.”

Her maternal grandparents are Santerriah Street and Vaughn Street of Andalusia. Goddess has two siblings: Kazhmir Mehki Calloway, 4, and Gynesis Anautica Calloway, 2. “I’m definitely blessed and excited to be her mother,” Pitts said.