It took 10 days, but Poway’s 2023 New Year baby has arrived.
Charles Dennis Felton was born at 12:58 p.m. on Jan. 10 at Palomar Medical Center Poway. He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long.
His parents are Rachel and Kyle Felton, who have lived in Poway since 2014.
“We were shocked because he was born on the 10th,” said Rachel Felton after learning from the nursing staff that her son is Poway’s New Year baby.
Felton said she thought there must have been a Poway baby born earlier in the year than hers.
Other babies were born at the hospital earlier in January, according to staff, but per tradition, the honor goes to the first Poway resident born at the Poway hospital.
Among those welcoming home baby Charlie, as his parents plan to call him, are his 2-year-old brother, Walker, and paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Felton.
Felton said her son is named after family members. Charles is the first name of her husband’s grandfather and middle name of her father-in-law. Dennis is her father’s middle name.
The newborn’s parents didn’t grow up in the area. Kyle Felton is from St. Louis, Missouri and Rachel is from Springdale, Arkansas. They met while attending Missouri State University. Her work for the research institute at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park brought them to California.
“I have a lot of coworkers who live here,” she said.
Being able to board her horse in Poway was also a draw.
“I rode horses while pregnant, so the boys will be ready to ride too,” she said.
The Poway Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the family with a gift card and flowers, said President Mike Leland.
Source: sandiegouniontribune.com
