By Jessie Marchesseau

The South Lake Tahoe’s 2011 New Year’s baby was actually born the day after New Year’s.

Kaleb Morales was born at 7:23am on Jan. 2 at Barton Memorial Hospital. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 20 inches.

The Morales family.

He is the first child for parents Yuliana and Francisco Morales of South Lake Tahoe.

Of having the first baby of the year, Yuliana Morales said, “We were really excited, especially when we found out we were the first. We thought someone else probably had one (Saturday).”

She said her friends and family had joked about her having the New Year’s baby because she was due on the fifth. But she did not think it would really happen.

The new parents were even more excited when they found out about the gift basket they would be receiving. The basket is a tradition for the New Year’s baby, and this year it features $850 worth of goodies including gift certificates, baby clothes, gym memberships, flowers, a savings account, and a cocktail reception and one- night stay at a local hotel.

Kaleb’s tiny footprint will also be engraved and displayed at the hospital as part of the Footprints to the Future.