A Freeland couple welcomed Whidbey Island’s first baby of 2018 hours into New Year’s Day.

Ford Ellis Williams was born at 8:39 a.m. in his parents’ Freeland home. Williams was born to mother Katelyn Williams and father Joseph Williams. Ford Williams is their first child.

The baby boy weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 21 inches long.

“He came a week later than he was due, but we’re just glad that he finally showed up,” Katelyn Williams said. “We’re ready and excited he’s here to start the new year. We can’t wait to see what he grows into.”

Katelyn Williams added the family was blessed to kickstart 2018 this way.

The newborn was brought into the world with a helping hand from longtime midwife Cynthia Jaffe, who runs the Greenbank Birth Center. It isn’t the first baby Jaffe has delivered for the family, although it’s a first for Katelyn and Joseph Williams.

Jaffe delivered Katelyn Williams in Oct. 1995, making her the midwife for two generations.

“It’s amazing to think about,” Jaffe said. “I think one of the nicest things about being in a small community is watching these kids grow up. It’s such a compliment to see them come back and trust me with their own babies.”

Katelyn Williams says Jaffe was recommended to her from her mother, who spoke of an “amazing experience” at the birth center. It’s becoming more common for Jaffe to deliver generations of families, as the birth center was opened in 1992.

She’s even delivered church-loads of babies, according to Williams.

“We go to Calvary Chapel-Whidbey Island, and almost everyone there has gone to Cynthia multiple times to deliver their babies,” Katelyn Williams said. “We love her; it’s hard to imagine doing it with anybody other than Cynthia.”

Contributed photo — Ford Ellis Williams is held by mother Katelyn Williams.