PETERBOROUGH — The first baby of 2010 at Monadnock Community Hospital was born to a Rindge couple at 2:29 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Elizabeth Rose West, daughter of Alyssa and Jonathan West, weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long.

Elizabeth was named after her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Lampinen of South Carolina, Alyssa West said.

West, 18, grew up in Chassell, Mich., though her mother is originally from Rindge. Jonathan West, 20, grew up in Rindge.

Alyssa West moved to Rindge a year ago to help her sister, who had just had a baby. Her family soon introduced her to Jonathan, she said, adding that it was pretty much love at first sight.

He is a framer for Alotek Construction in Rindge. She plans to stay at home with the baby.
It was an exciting and stressful holiday week for the first-time parents. Elizabeth was due on Christmas Eve. A week after her due date, Alyssa West went into labor on New Year’s Eve at 2:30 p.m. Twelve hours later, Elizabeth was born.

“It was different than I expected. I guess you’re never really ready for it,” Alyssa West said of the labor.

She held her daughter, though, immediately after birth and the 12-hour ordeal was behind her. “She started crying right away and you just get the mothering instinct,” she said.

Both of Elizabeth’s parents come from large families. Jonathan West is one of six and Alyssa West is one of 11. She said they plan to leave the size of their family in God’s hands. “We’re willing if he gives us more.”

Along with receiving a good education, she said she hopes her daughter will learn to walk with God. “I just hope she follows Jesus and his word.”

This story appears on Page 3 of the Jan. 5 Ledger-Transcript.