The headlines are very similar, but appear 31 years apart. Gabriel Yehudah Goodbinder, born Jan. 2, became the first Jewish baby of 2012. He is the son of Jay and Darcy Goodbinder. Darcy was the first Jewish baby on Jan. 6, 1980, and was featured on the front page of the Jan. 11, 1980, edition of The Jewish Chronicle.
Gabriel was born at 9:45 p.m. at Shawnee Mission Hospital. He has light brown hair and hazel eyes.
“His eyes haven’t differentiated yet,” Jay said.
He weighed 6 pounds, 3.4 ounces and was 18 inches long. He is the first child for the Goodbinders, who were married Nov. 1, 2009.
Darcy said Gabriel’s actual due date was Jan. 16.
“We definitely discussed the possibility that he could be the first Jewish baby, but we had no idea. My mom was always two weeks early with her children, so we thought that I probably would go early,” said Darcy, who has three siblings. Her mother, Patti Kroll, is Congregation Beth Shalom’s Polsky Religious School director.
Like all new parents, the Goodbinders are not getting much sleep. But Darcy praised Jay for his helpfulness in allowing her to get in as many naps as possible. She recently retired as the chef in the Heritage Center’s kitchen. Jay is a chiropractor at the Neuropathy Center.
“We’ve been very excited this whole pregnancy. We think it’s a blessing and a miracle,” Darcy said.
“It’s changed your paradigm on life,” Jay added.
The “First Baby” contest is sponsored each year by The Chronicle: The Goodbinder family will be treated to prizes from the following advertisers:
Cigar & Tabac, Ltd.: “It’s a Boy” cigars
Cosentino’s Price Chopper: $25 gift certificate
Craig Sole Designs: Bouquet
Gates Bar-B-Q: $25 gift certificate
HyVee, 91st and Metcalf: $25 of diapers or baby food
Irish Crystal Co: Reed & Barton frame
Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series: Two tickets to “Stuffed and Unstrung — Henson Alternative,” Feb. 18
Knocky’s Liquors: $25 gift certificate
Riley’s Phillips 66: $25 gift certificate
Sheridan’s Lattés & Frozen Custard: Gift certificate
Theatre for Young America: Baby’s first live theater performance
Urban Table: $25 gift card