Allison Flynn

The first baby born in the new year at Rutherford Regional Health System was Rory Annabelle Leanne McKelvey, daughter of Brittany and Chris McKelvey of Saluda. 

Annabelle, who was welcomed by her big sister, Katilynn, weighed 8 pounds and ¾ ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Annabelle arrived at 3:06 a.m. 

“I was due December 27 and was actually scheduled to be induced Jan. 2,” Brittany said. “I started having pains Tuesday afternoon.” 

Annabelle isn’t the first member of her family to be the New Year’s baby. Her great-grandfather, the late Roy Sain, was also born January 1. 

Annabelle is the granddaughter of Roy McKelvey and Ilean McKelvey and Thomas and Lou Ann Nellis. 

As the first family to have a baby in the new year, the McKelveys received a variety of baby-related gifts from The Birth Place at Rutherford Regional, Rutherford Children’s Care and the Rutherford Regional Auxiliary, as well as from Pampers, Enfamil (Mead/Johnson), Spindazzle, Smith’s Drug, Medical Arts Pharmacy, Vassey Hemphill and Monica Parkkonen Photography in Taylors, S.C.