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  • Tyrell Castell and Misty Pendergraft (top, from left) glance at their newborn son, Tobias, The 4 lb. 13.6 oz. infant, born at 4:34 a.m. at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, became Enid's first 2013 New Year's Day baby. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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January 1, 2013

Tobias first New Year’s Day baby

By Cass Rains, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID, Okla. — Tobias Robert Casteel was born at 4:34 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, making him the first baby of the new year.

Tyrel Casteel and Misty Pendergraft, Tobias’ proud parents, said they never expected to have a New Year’s Day baby. Instead, Pendergraft, whose already had three girls, was just hoping for a boy.

Tobias was two weeks early and weighed 4 pounds 13 ounces when he was born by Caesarean section. Pendergraft said she was watching TV about 11 p.m. New Years Eve when she began having contractions.

“I started contracting an hour before I rung in the new year,” she said. “I was watching TV and playing a game on my phone. He (Casteel) was asleep. I go in and turn on the hallway light and say ‘It’s time.’”

Pendergraft said her water broke about 2:45 a.m. and was dilated 7 centimeters when she arrived at the hospital. Tobias arrived several  hours later.

Tobias joins sisters Kyla Pendergraft, Brinley Pendergraft, Hadley Casteel and stepbrother Tyson Casteel.

“We’re definitely going to have to get new clothes,” Pendergraft said. “All we’ve got are newborn. They’ll probably swallow us.”

Tobias is a healthy and quiet baby so far, his parents said.

“He’s been real good,” Casteel said. “He’s a little guy.”

When asked where they got the name, Pendergraft giggled and pointed to Casteel, saying “Ask him.” The name, it turns out, comes a popular TV show, “Criminal Minds.”

“It was the one with James Van Der Beek,” Casteel said. “He was on that (show), and it was the first time I’d heard it.”

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