By Alex Robinson
Two proud parents took home one of Queens’ first babies born in the Lunar New Year from the hospital last week.
Yin Liu gave birth to a baby girl, Meiomi, at New York Hospital Queens at 12:39 a.m. last Friday.
“It was a happy surprise to have Meiomi on the Lunar New Year. She wasn’t due until Feb. 6,” Liu said as she lay in the hospital bed with her newborn baby, who weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces.
The new baby’s father, Chris Gammon, said they named Meiomi after a bottle of Napa Valley Pinot Noir.
“We also wanted it to sound Oriental,” said Liu, an accountant who is originally from China but moved to New York City four years ago.
The couple live in Astoria and missed the family Lunar New Year celebrations they would have usually attended when their daughter decided it was time to enter the world.
“When I started having contractions, I just thought ‘Oh, no. I’m going to ruin my doctor’s New Year’s Eve,’” Liu said.
Liu’s mother made sure to bring traditional Chinese food to the hospital as well as a red envelope with money in it, as is traditional for Lunar New Year.
The Lunar New Year is considered the most important holiday in many Asian cultures and falls on a different day every year. This year it fell on Jan. 31.
Meiomi was born in the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac’s 12-year cycle. Those born in the Year of the Horse are believed to be strong, independent and energetic.
“My dad was born in Year of the Horse,” Liu said, “so it’s lucky.”
The hospital presented the family with a $250 gift card and a congratulatory basket of flowers.
Meiomi, who was delivered by attending physician Dr. Ing-Yann Jeng, is the couple’s second child. They also have a 13-month-old son.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
