First Children of the New Year, New Generation Born in Chicago
We’re So Excited to Get to Know Her
Scarlett Carmela Sartori almost shared a birthday with her dad.
Instead, the 6-pound, 15-ounce newborn was delivered at Illinois Masonic Hospital less than 15 minutes after the new year began, making her one of the first babies born in Chicago in 2025 and one of the city’s first members of Generation Beta — which will make up all babies born between 2025 and 2039.
Labor was induced on the 30th, Scarlett’s father Josh’s 35th birthday, and bets quickly started flying between the Irving Park parents and delivery team about when she would be born.
“Once New Year’s Eve hit, we were all staring at the clock to see if she would end up as a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day baby,” mother Sophia Sartori told reporters on a Zoom call Wednesday morning. “As we were going through the trenches at 11:45 p.m., we all had bets going on with the delivery team on when she would be born.”
A New Beginning
Sophia and Joshua Sartori hold their newborn Scarlett shortly after she was born on New Year’s Day.
Scarlett — named after Sophia’s favorite book, “The Scarlet Letter,” and her mother’s first name, Carmela — was born while “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows played, the result of her ’90s alternative music-loving mother who asked for music during the delivery.
Sophia called the experience “surreal.”
“We’re very tired,” Sophia said, laughing. “[But] we’re so excited she’s here and we’re so excited to get to know her today.”
More New Arrivals
At Rush University Medical Center, Lavaeh Brandt was born at 1:03 a.m. She’s Ingrid Brandt’s fourth child, so her newborn will be coming home to “excited” siblings between ages 4 and 17.
While Lavaeh was born earlier than her mother anticipated, Brandt said she hadn’t made plans for New Year’s Eve, meaning the birth brought some excitement to what otherwise would have been a quiet night.
“[Spending New Year’s Eve giving birth] is OK, I guess,” Brandt said, laughing. “I had no plans anyway.”
Other Newborns
Among the other newborns were Ethan Jovanni Maxinez — born at 12:56 a.m. at Lutheran General Hospital to Dunning-based parents Zara Amirova and Giovanni Maxinez — and Aiden Jimenez, born about an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital to parents Rubicelda Morales and Jose Luis Jimenez Bello.
Amirova and Maxinez were surprised around 2 a.m. Tuesday when Zara’s water broke while the two were watching TV, two weeks before her expected due date.
They had anticipated Ethan might be sharing a birthday with Giovanni’s younger brother on Jan. 15. With Giovanni’s birthday Dec. 4 and the holidays, he joked it would be a busy time of year for the family going forward.
“We weren’t even thinking about having him so soon, but he wanted to come out early,” the newborn’s father told the Sun-Times while his wife rested. “He just wanted to celebrate New Year’s with us.”
Conclusion
As the clock struck midnight, a new generation of Chicagoans was born, bringing joy and excitement to families across the city. These newborns, among the first of their generation, will grow up to shape the future of our city and our world.
FAQs
Q: What time was Scarlett Carmela Sartori born?
A: Scarlett was born at 11:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
Q: How many babies were born on New Year’s Day in Chicago?
A: According to the article, three babies were born on New Year’s Day in Chicago: Scarlett Carmela Sartori, Lavaeh Brandt, and Ethan Jovanni Maxinez.
Q: What time was Lavaeh Brandt born?
A: Lavaeh was born at 1:03 a.m. at Rush University Medical Center.
Q: Who named the newborn Scarlett Carmela Sartori?
A: Sophia Sartori, the mother, named her daughter Scarlett Carmela Sartori, after her favorite book, “The Scarlet Letter,” and her mother’s first name, Carmela.
