Ten hours after her mother went into labor, Angelina Jean Berger was born on Tuesday, January 6. Her arrival was much easier on her mother than older sister Alexandra’s arrival.

“She was 56 hours of labor,” Jessica Berger said Wednesday evening, looking toward her older daughter while cuddling Angelina in her lap. Gesturing toward the newborn, Jessica added, “She was nice and easy.”

Gathered in the living room of the Sandy Hook home Wednesday evening, the family was celebrating the announcement that young Angelina has been named The Newtown Bee’s First Baby of 2015.

The baby has been sleeping and eating “very, very well,” said her mother.

“We really lucked out with both of our girls,” said Jessica. “Both are wonderful.”

Angelina Jean Berger was born at Danbury Hospital at 5:23 pm. She weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Catherine Hansen was the attending physician.

Her maternal grandparents are Patricia and Tom Dallinga, and paternal grandparents are Linda and Joseph Berger.

Her middle name honors her paternal great-grandmother, who will turn 90 later this year.

The Bergers have lived in Sandy Hook for about six years. Jessica is a service advisor for BMW Ridgefield, and Nick does heavy civil construction.

They have been married for 5½ years, but have been best friends since age 13, Nick said.

Alexandra, 5, enjoys dancing and singing, and had been a soccer player in Newtown Soccer League until just recently. She is considering taking up gymnastics, and nearly demonstrated how well she can do cartwheels until her father gently reminded her that it wouldn’t be appropriate while wearing a dress.

Meanwhile, Alexandra dotes on the newest member of the family. She sings to her little sister, gently plays with her hair, and looks adoringly toward her every chance she gets. She see the role as being a big sister as an important one, and says it feels good to have a little sister.

“She’s such a good big sister,” said Jessica.

“I get to change her diapers!” Alexandra announced proudly. “She looks just like me when I was a baby,” she added. 

Jessica and Nick learned about The Bee’s First Baby Contest through the mother of one of Alexandra’s friends.

“Alexandra was invited to the birthday party for her friend Allison, and I had to tell Allison’s mother that she wouldn’t be able to come because I had just had a baby,” Jessica said this week, smiling. “The mother understood, of course, and sent me a note telling me about the First Baby thing, and that I should get in touch with the newspaper.”

The woman who encouraged Jessica to contact The Bee was Karyn Holden, who is very familiar with the contest. In 2009 she and her husband John welcomed a daughter, their second child, into the world on January 2. Allison Holden, now 6, was the 2009 First Baby of Newtown.

As has been the tradition for decades, Jessica and Nick Berger will receive a collection of congratulatory gifts from a number of local merchants in honor of their being parents of Newtown’s First Baby.

Donated gifts for the 55th annual First Baby Contest include a European facial at Avancé Esthétiques, dinner for two at Blue Colony Diner, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne from Cork-N Barrel Wine Spirits & Liquor, a $25 gift card from Dodgingtown Garage, a cheesecake from DOrazio Sisters Cheesecakes & Goodies, ten movie passes to Edmond Town Hall Theatre, and dinner for Jessica and Nick from the Pasta Specialty Menu at Franco’s Pizza & Pasta.

Also, a $25 gift certificate from Hollandia Nurseries in Bethel, a $25 gift certificate from McGuire’s Ale House, a $25 starter savings account at Newtown Savings Bank, a $20 gift certificate from Nick’s Restaurant & Catering in Danbury, an oil change at NJK Sunoco, a large cheese pizza from Papa Al’s Pizza-Pasta-Subs, a gift from People’s United Bank (the bank would not disclose what its gift would be this year), a baby soother by Jelly Cat from Queen Street Gifts & Treats, a newborn photography session by Sandra Lynn Photography, lunch from Sandy Hook Deli & Catering, a one-year subscription to The Newtown Bee, a $50 gift certificate from UK Gourmet, and lunch for two at The Villa Restaurant & Pizza.