Windsor, Ontario, has welcomed its first newborn of 2026 in a heartwarming story that carries a unique family tradition. Baby Favour Jesuseum Josiah made her entrance into the world, marking the beginning of the new year for the city and creating a special paternal bond.
A Precious Early Morning Arrival
Favour Jesuseum Josiah was born at Windsor Regional Hospital at 2:53 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Weighing a healthy seven pounds and one ounce, the baby girl received celebratory attention from hospital staff as she was the sole delivery in the maternity ward between midnight and the late morning on New Year's Day.
Her mother, Grace Babasemi, expressed her joy and excitement at having the city's first New Year's baby. "I was so excited to have the first New Year's baby — she's already bringing so much joy," Babasemi said. "She's so adorable, so beautiful." She described a positive labour experience, praising the support of nurse Julianna, a close friend named Sue, and her spouse, Temitote Josiah.
A Birthday Coincidence with Deep Meaning
The timing of Favour's birth holds profound significance for the Babasemi-Josiah family. In a remarkable twist of fate, her father, Temitote Josiah, was also born on New Year's Day in the family's native Nigeria.
"It's an amazing coincidence," Grace Babasemi remarked. "She couldn't wait to join daddy." This shared birthday creates an instant and enduring family tradition, linking father and daughter across generations and continents.
Favour is the fourth child for parents Grace and Temitote. She joins an eager sibling group at home, consisting of a five-year-old brother and two sisters, aged three and 18 months. Temitote Josiah shared his gratitude, thanking both God and the Windsor community, which the family now proudly calls home.
New Year Babies Across Southwestern Ontario
The arrival of 2026 was celebrated with new life in other hospitals across the region as well. In London, a baby boy named Bryson Carlsen was born at London Health Sciences Centre at 1:28 a.m. Weighing an identical seven pounds and one ounce, he is the son of parents Brooklyn Lemieux and Michael Carlsen.
Meanwhile, in Sarnia, Bluewater Health welcomed Marsavian Joshua Williams at 1:30 a.m. The newborn boy, delivered to parents Courtney Kettle and Austin Williams, weighed six pounds and fifteen ounces.
As Windsor settled into the first day of the new year, the Babasemi-Josiah family's celebration stood out, marking 2026 not just with the turn of the calendar but with the unforgettable gift of life and a generational birthday link. "Windsor has been so good for our family," Temitote said, reflecting on their new beginning in the city.
