The Casteel family welcomed Henderson County’s first baby of 2020 on New Year’s Day with baby Noah.
Noah Tyler Casteel was born at 1:08 p.m. Jan. 1, weighing 7 pounds and 3 ounces and is 21 inches long. He is the son of Amanda and Jordan Casteel of Hendersonville.
Noah’s father is an Army Specialist currently serving overseas. Jordan was able to see his son for the first time through video chat.
The new mother is doing well, and she and Noah are expected to be able to go home Friday afternoon.
“I love this boy a lot. I didn’t think I could love something so much until I met my little boy,” Amanda Casteel said, adding it feels good to have Noah be the first local baby born in 2020.
Noah’s came a handful of days early, and his original due date was Jan. 6.
On Thursday afternoon, Amanda said Noah slept well through the night and only woke up twice to feed and have his diaper changed.
“He slept really good last night,” Casteel said. “He’s been sleeping a lot.”
It was difficult going through the delivery without her husband, she said. Luckily, his sister Rebecca was able to serve as the delivery coach.
“It was really, really hard not having him here with me, but his sister stepped in and helped me a lot. I’m glad she did,” Casteel said.
Noah’s Aunt Rebecca got her new nephew his first gift at the AdventHealth gift shop, a bear in an Army uniform that plays “The Army Song.”
Noah will be able to meet his father face-to-face at the end of January or the beginning of February.
After Jordan returns home, the family will go to Fort Hood in Texas, where he is currently stationed.
On average, The Baby Place in AdventHealth Hendersonville welcomes about 700 babies every year, according to a news release from the local hospital.
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