MONROE — The Monroe Clinic welcomed its first baby of 2021 at 3:25 a.m. Jan. 3.

The baby boy, Noah James Matzke, was born just one day after his due date of Jan. 2., so the fact that he arrived at the turn of the year wasn’t too surprising to parents Jordan and Brad Matzke of Brodhead.

They were gifted New Year’s baby packages from both the clinic and the town of Brodhead, including items such as gift cards, money towards Noah’s savings account, toys, books and more.

Jordan said that welcoming the first baby of the year for both Monroe and Brodhead to their family has been a positive start to 2021 after a taxing 2020. 

“I feel it starts the year on a high note for us,” she said. “We want to say a big thank you to all the doctors and nurses who helped deliver and take care of our son and to everyone who has reached out and blessed us with gifts and well wishes. Your kindness means more than you know during this time.”

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing a new member into the family was different for many people this year. 

The couple also has a 2-year-old son named Charlie who was born six days early, and the differences in the world just two years later did not go unnoticed by them.

“It was just a completely different experience with COVID,” Jordan said. “[It] has impacted our lives on every front between work, family and friends. Not being able to physically share our son with loved ones during this time is hard but at the same time, on a positive note, has created more bonding time with our little family.”