Poplar Bluff welcomes first baby of 2024

Matthias Orion Moore Hargreaves arrived at 12:25 a.m. Monday to claim the title of first baby of the year born at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

The baby boy weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces, measuring 21 inches long. Both mom and baby are reportedly healthy and doing well.

Proud parents Krisale Nelson and Dale Hargreaves Jr. recently moved to Poplar Bluff from California. They have two daughters, Brialle, 13, and Rhea, who celebrated her first birthday Dec. 15.

Krisale said, baby Matthias was the “shocker, but we are glad to have him. The family all joked with me about having the first baby of the year. I was happy.”

Krisale arrived at the hospital about 10 a.m. New Year’s Eve.

“The two girls here with me, they went before me,” she said, but her son decided he wanted to be first. When she was checked, “three pushes and he was here.”

The baby was welcomed home Tuesday by great-grandmother, Cindy Nelson; grandmother, Paullita Hanley; and grandfather, David Pimintel, all of Poplar Bluff. Matthias’ grandparents in California are Alli Rightmer and Dale Hargreaves.

Krisale said, people often ask why the family moved from California.

“I love it here in Poplar Bluff,” she said. “It is so much nicer than California.”

In total, PBRMC labor and delivery staff delivered three babies Jan. 1. Last year, more than 1,100 babies were born at PBRMC.