First baby of 2025 arrives

The Clovis hospital’s first baby of 2025 is a boy, born at 8:53 a.m. Thursday.

Brandon Rashard Holmes Jr. was born to Marla Arrington and Brandon Rashard Holmes Sr. of Clovis. He was 20.5 inches long and weighed 7 pounds, 9.5 ounces.

“He’s the smallest baby I’ve had. We were expecting him Dec. 24 and when he didn’t arrive we thought he’d be at least 9 pounds,” Arrington said.

Arrington, from Columbus, Ga., is an E4 with the U. S. Air Force, stationed at Cannon Air Force Base.

Holmes, from Albany, Ga., is a shift leader at the Dollar General store just outside the Cannon main entrance.

The couple has been married five years and have two older children: 8-year-old Marcus and 3-year-old Brandi.

Arrington said it was “interesting” having the area’s first baby of 2025.

“I went into early labor Dec. 29. And when he presented feet first, they had to do a C-section.” Arrington said.

As the first baby of 2025 born at Clovis’ Plains Regional Medical Center, the family was presented with a Radio Flyer wagon full of gifts.

“They were from businesses all over Clovis: Restaurant gift cards, a Walmart gift card, other gift cards, diapers, toys, books, bottles, a whole bunch of different stuff,” Holmes said.

What will baby Brandon be as he grows up in the 21st century?

“Since he has older parents, whatever he wants to be, whatever’s the limit,” Holmes said.