SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – More than 44 hours into the New Year, Regional West welcomed its first baby of 2014.

Jaxon Matthew Blanco was born at 8:18 p.m., Thursday, January 2. His parents, Shanda Ayers and Jeremy Blanco of Scottsbluff said he wasn’t due until January 11, so the honorary title of “Regional West’s First Baby of the New Year” was a pleasant surprise.

Connie Rupp, director of Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center and Pediatrics, presented the family with a diaper bag filled with baby gifts, which is a Regional West tradition for the first baby born at Regional West each New Year.

Jaxon measured 19.5 inches and weighed six pounds, eight ounces.

Regional West Health Services is the parent company for Regional West Medical Center and Regional West Physicians Clinic. These organizations, with over 1,800 employees, provide comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, the Regional West family of health care organizations offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties.