Photo provided Kaitlyn and Dakota Burton, Columbus, are shown at Columbus Regional Hospital with their son Mason Dean Burton, Bartholomew County’s first baby of 2024.
Bartholomew County’s first baby of 2024 arrived Tuesday morning, a planned delivery but an exciting New Year’s gift to the first-time parents.
Mason Dean Burton arrived at 8:57 a.m. at Columbus Regional Hospital, weighing in at 9 pounds, 10.6 ounces, the son of Dakota and Kaitlyn Burton, Columbus. Mason is the couple’s first child.
Dakota Burton is a welder at Toyota and Kaitlyn Burton is a corrections officer at the Bartholomew County Jail.
The new mom said she had no idea that the scheduled delivery of Mason would mark the first birth in 2024 for Bartholomew County.
“I was surprised to say the least,” she said.
The family received a large welcome to the world basket for Mason which included a number of baby items including a pack and play and a car seat.
The gifts presented to the first baby of the year born at Columbus Regional Hospital were provided by Bartholomew County Child Abuse Prevention Council, hosted by Family Service, Inc. and some community partners.
Mason’s middle name, “Dean,” was to honor Dakota’s grandfather, Kaitlyn said.
Mason is the first grandchild for Kaitlyn Burton’s mother, but joins a group of grandchildren through the extended family, she said.
