Abigail Eure Proctor came a little earlier than mom expected, but her timing was perfect to be Albemarle Hospital’s first baby of the new year.

The 8-pound, 4-ounce girl was born at 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 1. Her due date was Jan. 8.

Even a couple family members were pulling for one day later. Mom

Kourtney Eure, 24, said her stepmom and her mom were both born on Jan. 2, and the two were hoping Abigail might keep up the tradition.

Her arrival on New Year’s actually meant a little extra attention in the nursery. Abigail was the only one to occupy a crib on the first day of 2013.

Kourtney said she didn’t mind.

“She’ll get lots of one-on-one attention,” Kourtney said Tuesday at about 5 p.m.

Mom and dad Justin Proctor of Chowan County arrived at the hospital about 12 hours before Abigail’s birth, on what appeared to be a normal day. Kourtney had gone to work at Sound Feet Shoes, ate dinner and showered as usual. Then about 11:30 the contractions started coming.

Justin, a commercial fisherman and carpenter, was in the delivery room when Abigail arrived, all 21 and a half inches with brown hair that likes to stand straight up. Try to flatten the hair, and she fusses, notes Mom.

“She’s got a hairdo going on there,” said Justin, who believes Abigail gets her looks from mom.

Abigail is the couple’s first child. The two, high school sweethearts in Perquimans, said the baby had been a surprise after their seven years together. The couple was looking forward to 2013 with the new addition in their lives.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Abigail was fast asleep in Mom’s arms, and several family members were admiring the little one. Eure said the support of family will be important in the days ahead.

“It’s going to be scary, but we will learn as we go,” said Kourtney. “We’ve got lots of family to help.”