First baby of 2012; Uniontown family welcomes new addition

Alexis Hall, 7, holds her baby brother, David "Butch" Hall, at Mercy Health Center on Monday. Her father, Casey, is on the left and her mother, Joni, sits on the right. David is the second New Year's baby born to the Hall family. (Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

The New Year's Day birth of David "Butch" Hall to Casey and Joni Hall of Uniontown was doubly meaningful.

The newborn's sister Alexis was born Jan. 3, 2005, the first baby of that year, and he bears the nickname of his late uncle, a soldier who died in Afghanistan in 2004.

"It was kind of crazy. I didn't expect it to happen," Joni Hall said of David's birth. She added that his due date was Jan. 18.

David came into the world at 7:41 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, at 19 inches long and weighing 7 pounds. Dr. Larry Seals delivered him.

For having the first baby of 2012, the Halls receive a custom newborn onesie from ENVy, a $10 gift certificate from Marsha's Great Plains Deli and one package of diapers from Walmart in Fort Scott.

Asked how they felt about having another New Year's baby, Alexis and her grandmother Mary Pillion said they loved it. Alexis, who turned 7 on Tuesday and attends West Bourbon Elementary School, said she didn't mind sharing first baby honors with her new brother.

Dressed in tan corduroys, a Navy plaid shirt, red sweater vest and tan shoes for his debut, David showed early signs of being a happy baby. Joni said the outfit was given to her.

"I just thought it was awesome, and I couldn't wait to put him in it," she said.

Interviewed in her hospital room at Mercy Health Center by the Tribune on Monday, Joni was surrounded by her husband, daughter and mother Mary. Paternal grandparents are David Hall and the late Donna Hall Linn.

Casey Hall is self-employed and does carpentry work. Joni Hall is a certified nurse assistant at Medicalodges

Army Spc. David E. "Butch" Hall, the baby's uncle, was killed during Operating Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Feb. 25, 2004. The Department of Defense website announced his death on Feb. 27 that year.

Spc. Hall, 21, also of Uniontown, died in a non-hostile accident, the website said. He was assigned to the 805th Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, Raleigh, N.C.