BANGOR – Only 18 minutes into the new year, Kathryn Austin came into the world and became the first baby born in Maine in 2002, according to a survey of hospitals around the state.

The 21-inch, 8-pound 8-ounce infant rested quietly in her mother’s arms Tuesday morning, oblivious to the excitement generated by the timing of her birth at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

“I feel blessed,” said Kelly Austin of Brewer, the proud mother.

Austin said she was happy her second child was healthy and born without complication. She said she was looking forward to a visit by her 21/2-year-old son in a couple of hours, when he would meet his baby sister for the first time.

The mother and baby are expected to return to their Brewer home today.

“It’s a terrific way to start the new year,” said David Austin, the father and a lawyer with Eaton Peabody, Bradford and Veague in Bangor. “It’s just very uplifting.”

The proud father said the timing of his daughter’s birth, which brought five reporters, photographers and cameramen to their hospital room late New Year’s morning, also had him thinking.

“What does it mean?” he asked. Then, answering his own question, he said, “It’s just a terrific experience – given everything that’s been going on in 2001.”

Since the horrific events of Sept. 11, David said he’d been talking with a good friend about raising children in today’s world.

“[Ultimately] you just want them to be good people and to be happy,” he said.

Although the official due date for Kathryn had been Dec. 31, both parents expected she might be a Christmas baby. After all, first child Jared had been born about a month earlier than expected.

But on the last day of 2001, Dr. Vance Aloupis told the parents at 9 a.m. that they should be prepared.

“He suggested things were going to happen quickly,” David remembered. By 3 p.m., the couple were still waiting for developments.

Later, the Austin family set about having a quiet evening. The parents watched over Jared as he played with a train set he had received for Christmas. Contractions soon set in, however, and they knew the moment was at hand.

By 10:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve the couple had checked into EMMC.

Also on hand was Kelly’s sister Shari Norwood. Norwood is a registered nurse and delivery room nurse who came in specially to help bring her niece into the world. Norwood also had helped with Jared.

Norwood said that every child she has helped bring into the world has been a special experience. But the emotions are even more intense when your sister is giving birth to a niece, she said.

“She’s precious,” Norwood said as she looked at Kathryn sleeping in the crook of Kelly’s arm.

During more than a half-hour in the room with media representatives, the child never cried out. David said he was sure that wouldn’t last.

Despite getting just a few hours sleep after the delivery, Kelly wore a smile throughout her interview with four separate reporters. She said the five minutes of fame Kathryn would get from the timing of her birth would be remembered.

As her last interview Tuesday came to a close, she said she found the media attention a little overwhelming. But she said she was ready for the next onslaught of grandparents, great-grandparents and other family members coming that afternoon to see the new family member for the first time.