Chicago Welcomes its First Babies of 2025
The new year brought with it the joyous arrival of several newborns in Chicago, marking the beginning of a new generation. Among the first to arrive were two babies who made their debuts within minutes of the new year’s start.
Scarlett Carmela Sartori, weighing six pounds, fifteen ounces, entered the world at Illinois Masonic Hospital less than fifteen minutes after midnight. Her arrival was a closely watched event, with bets placed by her parents, Sophia and Josh Sartori, and the hospital staff as to whether she would be a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day baby. Labor was induced on December 30th, Josh’s 35th birthday, adding another layer of excitement to the occasion. The delivery was set to the tunes of Counting Crows’ “Mr. Jones,” a choice made by the ’90s music-loving mother. Sophia described the experience as “surreal” but expressed immense joy at Scarlett’s arrival, a name inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” and Sophia’s own name, Carmela.
Just a few hours later, at 1:03 a.m., Lavaeh Brandt arrived at Rush University Medical Center. She is the fourth child for Ingrid Brandt, joining three siblings aged 4 to 17 who were eagerly awaiting her arrival. The unexpected early arrival added a dash of excitement to what would have been a quiet New Year’s Eve for Brandt.
Other early arrivals included Ethan Jovanni Maxinez, born at 12:56 a.m. at Lutheran General Hospital to Zara Amirova and Giovanni Maxinez. Their surprise arrival came two weeks before the expected due date, with Zara’s water breaking unexpectedly while the couple watched television. Ethan’s early arrival also meant he missed sharing a birthday with his uncle, who was to celebrate his birthday on January 15th.
Aiden Jimenez joined the ranks of Chicago’s newest residents, arriving at Mt. Sinai Hospital approximately an hour after midnight. His parents, Rubicelda Morales and Jose Luis Jimenez Bello, received a traditional welcome basket of clothes, baby items, and a gift card, a yearly tradition at Mt. Sinai for the families of early New Year’s babies. Irene Cisneros, nursing operations manager of women’s and children’s services at Mt. Sinai Hospital, noted that celebrating the first babies of the year is “an incredible way to kick off the new year — with new life, new beginnings and boundless hope.” These newborns, representing the first members of Generation Beta (2025-2039), ushered in the new year with their joyous arrivals, filling Chicago with hope and the promise of a brighter future.