Lynn’s first baby of 2008

SALEM – When Lynn residents Hakim Boyles and Aiesha Diaz were looking ahead to the birth of their sixth child, the possibility of a New Year’s Day arrival seemed far-fetched at best.But as the calendar changed to 2008 on Tuesday the scenario they had played out in their heads actually became a reality when Diaz gave birth to the first Lynn baby born in the New Year, a healthy five-pound, five-ounce baby girl named Aakiyrah Honey Boyles.”We were always talking about having it born on New Year’s Day, but it was more of a figment of our imaginations,” said Boyles, barely containing his bliss as he held his new baby girl. “I’ll tell you one thing, this is one of the best New Years I have ever had in my life.”The Lynn couple has five other children, ages 9, 7, 5, 4 and 1-year-old Hakim Jr., and have just recently moved into a new apartment with their family after spending the first part of the winter in a shelter.The family is hoping their recent move and the addition of Aakiyrah are signs of even better things to come in 2008.”We just got out of the shelter and moved to a new apartment, so this is amazing,” said Boyles. “We just had a baby a year ago, Hakim Jr., so we have been busy, some of (the couple’s other children) are coming to visit tonight.Although Aakiyrah was the first baby of the year, she was not born until late in the afternoon. Diaz went in to labor shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, but did not give birth to her daughter until 4:41.The birth took place at Salem Hospital, which is the only birthing center for North Shore Medical Center, who also facilitates Union Hospital in Lynn.Diaz was emotional and filled with joy as she held Aakiyrah just hours after her birth, and lamented on her experience throughout the pregnancy and delivery.”All want to say ‘thank you’ to nurse Christi, she went through a lot for me and she helped me through everything,” said Diaz.