Hello there! The Jersey Shore's first New Year babies born in 2024

David P. Willis, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·2 min read

NEPTUNE — Just a few minutes after midnight on New Year's Day, Nicole and Chris DiMicco of Lacey welcomed their baby girl into the world.

Maren DiMicco was born at 12:11 a.m. at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Baby Maren weighs 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and was born with the help of Dr. Meghan Rattigan, and registered nurse Jessica Gazerwitz.

"It was a really happy experience," said Chris DiMicco, a teacher at Lacey High School. "Me and my wife actually said 'Happy New Year' to each other and then she turned to me and said, 'I think that it's go time' and then the baby came a few minutes later."

Nicole and Chris DiMicco of Lacey welcomed their baby girl Maren at 12:11 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
Nicole and Chris DiMicco of Lacey welcomed their baby girl Maren at 12:11 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

The DiMiccos also have a son Colton, who will turn 3 in February. "He's like, can she play with me yet?" DiMicco said.

Later in the morning, Maren was sleeping and Nicole DiMicco, a hairdresser at Salon 517 in Lacey, was enjoying a cup of coffee and a pork roll, egg and cheese.

New Year babies were born at other Shore hospitals too.

At Community Medical Center in Toms River, Dayanara and Paul Schulz of Toms River celebrated the birth of their daughter, Nicolette, a hospital spokesman said. She was born at 6:48 a.m. and weighs 6 pounds, 13 ounces.

Nicolette Schulz was born at 6:48 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024 at Community Medical Center in Toms River.
Nicolette Schulz was born at 6:48 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024 at Community Medical Center in Toms River.

A baby girl was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch at 12:17 a.m., a hospital spokesperson said.

A baby was born at 12:15 a.m. at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township.

Ocean University Medical Center in Brick welcomed a baby girl at 10:34 am

No further details about the babies were available.

Maren DiMicco was the first baby born at Hackensack Meridian Health's network of hospitals in New Jersey, which besides Jersey Shore, includes hospitals in Holmdel, Red Bank, Brick and Stafford.

“Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to provide world-class healthcare to this mother and baby, along with countless others,” said Robert C. Garrett, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, in a statement. "What a great way to start out the new year!"

David P. Willis: dwillis@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Year's baby 2024 at Monmouth, Ocean County