Pierce County baby born hours into the New Year after mom spends 3 days in labor
Little Calvin Koger had fireworks on the eve of his birthday.
Parents Will and Simone Koger welcomed their first child into the world at 1:23 a.m. Jan. 1, making Calvin one of the first babies born in the New Year in Pierce County.
Calvin, clocking in at 6 pounds 14 ounces, was born at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital. He’s 20 inches long.
His mother Simone spent three days in labor. “We weren’t sure if he’d be the end of the year or the New Year, and he held out,” she said in a phone call, laughing.
“ ... he’ll always have a party on his birthday, and fireworks.”
The News Tribune reached out to Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to ask about babies born at their hospitals on Jan. 1 and learned that a Lakewood couple, Kayleen Elika and Nathan Scanlan, welcomed their baby girl Elianna at 12:03 a.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center. Elianna weighs 8 pounds and 4.6 ounces and is 21 inches long, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health spokesperson Nandi Butcher wrote in an email. The News Tribune requested an interview with the parents but wasn’t able to arrange one via a spokesperson Thursday.
A spokesperson for Madigan Army Medical Center said in a phone call Dec. 31 that the center wouldn’t have a spokesperson available on the holiday.
The Kogers live in Spanaway. Simone, 31, is a therapist in private practice, and Will, 36, works as a data engineer for a ski and snowboard company based in Seattle, the couple told The News Tribune. They’ve been together for seven years and married for four.
Will said they named their newborn Calvin because of Simone’s favorite comic strip, Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes.” Calvin will have plenty of reading material from his namesake — Will said he got his wife a complete collection of the comic strips a few Christmases ago.
“I just love the whimsy of how that character was portrayed as a child that is very inquisitive and creative and wants to beat by his own drum,” Simone said. “ ... it’s always been the name I wanted to name a son.”
Calvin’s nose looks like mom’s and his eyes kind of look like dad’s, according to Will.
“It’s going to be fun to watch, to see how he grows into someone that looks a little bit like both of us,” he said.
The couple expressed gratitude for the medical staff who helped and reassured them through the delivery. They’re also grateful that mom and son are healthy and on the road to recovery, said Simone.
Asked what they’ll tell Calvin about his birthday later on, Simone thought for a moment. “I think I would definitely tell him he came when he wanted to,” she said, laughing.
“Definitely on his terms,” Will chimed in.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information about a baby girl born just after midnight at St. Joseph Medical Center Jan. 1.
This story was originally published January 1, 2026 at 3:08 PM.
