BY KYLE BARNETT

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE- The first baby of the New Year arrived in St. John the Baptist Parish at 11:54 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008 after more than eight hours of labor.

Evan Jerald Rouse weighed in at 8 pounds, 2.9 ounces and is 20-and-a-half inches long.

Evan makes it a trio of boys as he joins his older brothers, Brett, 4, and Conner, 22 months, to become the youngest member of the Rouse clan, of LaPlace, who are headed by Jean and Autumn Rouse.

“I’ve got all flavors now,” said Autumn. “I’ve got a dirty blonde, a white blond and now a dark blonde.”

To make the arrival even more special the family was presented with a basket of gifts from area businesses. It is a tradition at River Parishes Hospital to give the family of the first baby of the New Year a gift basket filled with goodies. The family received a $25 Visa gift card from Louisiana Federal Credit Union, dinner for two at Bull’s Corner Caf/, a $100 savings bond from Capital One, a portrait package from Portraits by Susie, $50 Wal-Mart gift card provided by the hospital and $100 worth of baby items from the hospital gift shop.