By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe’s first baby of the new year is actually a Gardnerville baby.

Yoni Lopez was born at 12:54pm New Year’s Day at Barton Memorial Hospital.

Mom, Cindy, was resting comfortably when Lake Tahoe News tried to reach her a few hours later. Dad, Guilmer, sounded proud as he talked about his third child. But he also admitted that by the time No. 3 three comes along, it’s all rather routine.

Guilmer Lopez said his newborn son, with all of his hair, looks like his 7-year-old sister at this early stage. Yoni also has a 12-year-old brother.

Yoni didn’t have any competition to be the New Year’s baby because his mom was the only one in labor Jan. 1.

In 2009, the first Barton baby didn’t arrive until Jan. 4. It was Jan. 2 the year before.

The custom is to take the New Year’s baby’s footprint for the hospital’s wall.

A gift basket is also usually part of the tradition, though hospital officials said the basket is still being assembled.