The early arrival of Logan Oliver Phillips on January 7 meant a very happy start to the year for his parents. Additional joy arrived in the Sandy Hook home of Sabrina and Russell Phillips three days later, when they learned that their son was being named Newtown's First Baby of 2017.

Logan arrived 3½ weeks earlier than expected. Deemed a "late premature," due to being born at his mother's 36 weeks, 4 days mark - babies are considered premature if born prior to the 37th week of a pregnancy - Logan is healthy and quite content. He slept through the interview his parents did with The Newtown Bee on January 11, the day after the First Baby deadline passed. He never made a peep or even flinched when a camera flash was used to photograph him for his first newspaper appearance. Nearby, family dog Cadence was also calm and content, watching everything from her blanket atop a couch.

Mrs Phillips's water broke at 12:15 am Saturday, January 7. She contacted her doctor and was told to head toward Danbury Hospital, where she was admitted. By 10 am, with no contractions happening, she was given a dose of Pitocin, a hormone that can cause or strengthen contractions.

"Then I went for a walk, I sat on the pregnancy ball, I went into the Jacuzzi tub," she said. "And then he came really fast. I pushed for 30 minutes."

"Sabrina did it all natural," her husband pointed out, smiling. "No epidural. She was a champ."

Mrs Phillips had a doula, a trained childbirth professional, to help her through the delivery process, which she called "a nice experience."

"It was great to have the extra set of hands for as long as we needed them," Mr Phillips said.

Mrs Phillips missed the snowstorm that blanketed the state that day. She was in the hospital before the worst of the precipitation arrived at daybreak, and stayed through its duration.

The Phillipses have lived in Sandy Hook since 2008, having moved into their home after traveling and working together for nearly a year. They were married in October 2011.

She is a fifth grade teacher in Fairfield, and he works for his father's company, Efficient Lighting, in Brookfield.

Logan's maternal grandmother is Cindy Daccurso and his maternal grandfather is Jan Krievins, both of Seattle, Wash. His paternal grandparents are Kathy Phillips of Brookfield and Thomas and Natalie Phillips of Trumbull.

Sabrina Phillips credits a lot of regular activity during her pregnancy with the ease of her delivery.

"We do a lot of marathons and races," she said. "I was able to run throughout my pregnancy. The doctors are saying that definitely helped."

The couple also enjoys hiking, often taking Cadence along with them. They expect to continue that recreational activity as soon as they can take their son out with them.

Logan weighed in at 5 pounds, 15 ounces, and measured 19 inches long when he was delivered by Dr Keith Falter II at 6:08 pm, January 7. He was, the couple learned, one of ten children delivered at the hospital on Saturday.

Due to his early arrival, Logan's blood sugar was closely monitored for 24 hours. It never went below what it was being watched for, Mr Phillips said, so Logan never needed to go into the neonatal intensive care unit. He also passed his car seat test, which took more than an hour, according to his mother.

"He stayed with us the entire time, which was nice," Mrs Phillips said.

Last weekend was when the couple had planned to focus on getting the nursery ready for their child. Wainscoting needed to be finished in the baby's room, clothing and other gifts that have been received were going to be sorted and put away.

"We were refocusing all of the stuff out of the guest room closet, and we had all of his stuff from baby showers out here in the living room," Mr Phillips said, standing in the open space that connects the couple's living room, dining area, and kitchen. "We had stuff everywhere. It was a mess.

"This was the weekend we were going to have everything done for him," he said.

"The hospital bag, freezer meals," Mrs Phillips added.

"Everything was going to get set so that we could just coast and wait, and then he came right at the beginning of the weekend," he said, smiling down at his son. The Phillipses did not know that they were having a boy, so they had that surprise waiting for them last weekend in addition to Logan's early arrival.

"It was a great surprise," Mr Phillips said.

"The best surprise," Mrs Phillips added.

After his wife was safely admitted into the hospital on Saturday, Mr Phillips ran home to do a little housekeeping.

"At 3:30 in the morning, because we didn't have any clothes yet washed for him, I went home to do a couple loads of laundry for him," he said.

His wife laughed at the memory.

"It was hilarious," she said. "I wasn't having any contractions, though, so it made sense for him to go home. And especially with the snow, I wanted him back later."

Russell and Sabrina are still working on getting their house in order for their child, but their priorities of course have shifted.

"It's amazing," Mrs Phillips said. "Everything changes so fast. It's just crazy to think that one second you leave here without a kid, and then you return home and everything's changed, for the better.

"Him coming early didn't damper any of our plans," she said. Looking down at the newborn in her arms, she said to her son, "It just means you get to spend more time with us."

The Prize Package

Thanks to local businesses and organizations, the entire Phillips family will be enjoying a prize package with something for everyone. Following are the gifts that were donated for this year's First Baby Prize Package:

$50 off a cleanup container or weekly trash service from Associated Refuse Haulers; a gift certificate for a European facial at Avancé Day Spa; a $30 gift certificate from Barnwood Grill; dinner for Sabrina and Russell at Blue Colony Diner; a $20 gift certificate from Byrd's Books; a pound of coffee from Cafe Xpresso; a $50 gift card from Chintz-N-Prints; ten movie passes for Edmond Town Hall Theatre; dinner for Sabrina and Russell at Franco's Pizza & Pasta; and a haircut and color for Sabrina and a hair cut and shave for Russell at Frank's Unisex Styling.

Also, a $25 gift certificate from Hollandia Nurseries; a one-hour personal training session for Sabrina at Joanne's Fitness Studio; a $25 gift certificate from McGuire's Ale House; breakfast for Sabrina and Russell at My Place Pizza & Restaurant; a one-year subscription or extension from The Newtown Bee; an oil change from Newtown Car Care Center; a $25 gift certificate from Newtown Color Center; a $50 gift card from Newtown Hardware; a $25 gift certificate from Nick's Catering; and an oil change at NJK Sunoco.

Additionally, a $25 savings account started at Newtown Savings Bank; a large cheese pizza from Papa Al's Pizza-Pasta-Subs; a $25 gift certificate and a laundry bag from PJ's Laundromat; a gift box of six baby socks from Queen Street Gifts & Treats; a $25 gift certificate from The Sheep Shoppe; a $25 gift certificate from Southbury Country Florist; a $25 gift certificate from Sweet Mango Sushi & Pan Asian Cuisine; a $20 gift certificate from Tambascio's Italian Grill; 20 percent off their first purchase at The Toy Tree; a $50 gift certificate from UK Gourmet; a large cheese pizza from The Villa Restaurant; and a gift bottle of Roeder Estate Brut Champagne, courtesy Yankee Wine & Spirits.