Kary Grotkowski was supposed to be spending New Year’s Day working as a delivery nurse in St. Clair Hospital’s family birth center. But a slow night allowed her to stay home for the New Year celebration.

Those plans changed at 3:15 a.m. Sunday when the Scott Township resident went into labor and her husband, Matthew, had to rush them to St. Clair Hospital to give birth to their new son.

The mother gave birth to James Jerome Grotkowski – they’re already calling him J.J. – at 4:48 a.m., making him one of the first Pittsburgh babies born in 2012.

“It is kind of exciting. Everyone’s making a big deal about it,” said Matthew Grotkowski. “We didn’t expect anything like that. It’s a whole different element, but pretty cool.”

Little J.J. was born just five hours after the first Pittsburgh baby was born at Magee-Womens Hospital at 12:18 a.m. West Penn Hospital also said they had a baby delivered at 2:48 a.m. Sunday.

“We know for sure we have an early bird here in the greater South Hills,” St. Clair spokesman Bob Crytzer said.

He was due Jan. 17 and weighs just 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Matthew Grotkowski said they’re excited to bring him home and take care of their new son who came more than two weeks premature.

“He was early, but everything’s fine,” he said. “He’s just a tiny little dude right now. We just have to fatten him up a little. He’s doing good.”

Matthew Grotkowski just marveled at the irony about Kary giving birth to their son on a night she was supposed to be off from the hospital.

“They called her and said they were slow and put her on call instead,” he said. “She would’ve been working and gone into labor (in the delivery room) if she didn’t stay home.”

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