Janel and Erin Sain welcomed their baby Jiyah into the world on Jan. 1. She is the first Cape Coral baby born in 2009. Photo by MICHAEL PISTELLA

Jan. 1, 2009 is Jiyah Sain’s day. It is the day that will appear on her birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, mortgage papers, and various other documents throughout Jiyah’s life as the number of candles on her cake grows.

So much to accomplish, so much to do, so much time to do it in. Where to begin? Jiyah and her family are likely happy just to spend the 6-pound, 3-ounce 20-and-3/4-inch newborn’s third day in the world together at their Fort Myers home.

First steps and riding a bike come later, let alone driving and owning a home.

Following 28 hours of labor, proud mother Janel Sain brought Jiyah into the world at 8:47 Thursday morning.

She was born in room 10 at the Cape Coral Hospital.

“She was insistent on being born on the first,” Sain said. “She must have wanted to be in the paper.”

Jiyah was the first baby born at the Cape Hospital this year; Sain said she came to the Cape because her midwife of 10 years only delivers in Cape Coral.

“She was well worth coming to Cape Coral for,” Sain said.

Sain had planned to attend a New Year’s Eve movie night and bonfire with her husband, Erin, and 8-year-old son, Ely. The festivities were to take place at the family’s church, Awaken, in Fort Myers.

“We did not get to go because of the birth,” Sain said.

Janel and Erin Sain welcomed their baby Jiyah into the world on Jan. 1. She is the first Cape Coral baby born in 2009.

The event was definitely worth missing, she said.

Erin Sain owns a local outdoor maintenance business, Number One Inc., while Janel is a stay-at-home mom at their Fort Myers home.