1st local baby of 2013 born to Hixson couple

photo Matthew Dutton rocks his newborn son Mobley Alexander Dutton Tuesday afternoon in the neonatal intensive care unit at Erlanger Hospital. Mobley, an 8 pound 7 ounce boy, was born to Matthew and Maria Dutton at 33 minutes into 2013, making him Chattanooga's first newborn of the year.

MOBLEY ALEXANDER DUTTON

• Weight: 8 pounds, 7 ounces• Length: 21 inches• Due date: Dec. 28, 2012• Born: 12:33 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2013

An artist by trade, Matthew Dutton calls his newborn son his best creation yet.

Mobley Alexander Dutton was born at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday, making him 2013's first birth in a Chattanooga-area hospital.

Matthew Dutton, of Hixson, said he and wife Maria tried to have as natural pregnancy as possible but doctors performed a Caesarean section early New Year's Day. He said neither of them was paying much attention to the time as midnight neared.

"It's surprising. But it's definitely a great story he's going to have with him," he said shortly before holding his son for the first time Tuesday afternoon at Children's Hospital at Erlanger neonatal intensive care unit.

The baby was born with fluid on his lungs. But that's clearing up, and doctors said he will be released from the NICU in a day or two. Matthew said his wife is recovering well from the surgery.

Mobley is actually the surname of Matthew's biological father, with whom he recently reunited. And the middle name Alexander was given in honor of Maria's grandfather who raised her.

Matthew, who works as a sculptor at Rock City Gardens, is thinking about casting his son's hands and feet. And he's eyeing his future abilities as an artist -- he's already got his daddy's long fingers.

"He has my hands," Matthew Dutton said. "I've been studying this guy."

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