Post’s First Baby 2016 Has Arrived

By FRANCES SHARPE | Editor-in-Chief

For the first time since the Palisadian-Post’s First Baby contest was launched in 1954, there isn’t just one winner; there are two.

Twins Benjamin James Nakamura and Lucas Alexander Nakamura were born Jan. 9 at 4:12 and 4:23 a.m., respectively, at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica.

Technically, “Ben”—as his parents Stephen and Angel Nakamura call him—was the first baby born, but the Post is celebrating both boys as First Baby 2016. Call it their first lesson in sharing.

The boys and their parents—and big sister Zoe, 20 months—will be sharing dozens of prizes donated by local merchants such as The Pump Station. (See box for a list of all the First Baby sponsors.)

The win came as a surprise to the Nakamuras, who were eager to show off the tiny twins to the Post. Ben weighed in at 6 pounds 10 ounces and measured 20 inches long while “little Lucas” tipped the scale at 5 pounds 10 ounces and measured 18 inches long.

“We thought our neighbor was going to win because she was due right around the first of the year,” said Angel, adding that their neighbor ended up giving birth on Dec. 31, one day too early for the First Baby prize. “We thought Jan. 9 would be too late to win.”

It was the couple’s real estate agent, Michael Edlen, who told them they should contact the Post to see if they won.

The Nakamuras, who have lived on Haverford Avenue in the Via Bluffs neighborhood for three years, are searching for a new home in Pacific Palisades.

“We love our street and would love to stay because we love our neighbors,” Angel said, “but with three kids now, we need more room.”

The couple is currently house-hunting in the Alphabet Streets.

“With Caruso opening up, the Alphabets would be terrific,” Stephen said. “We could just walk everywhere.”

Stephen, a feature film colorist with Company 3 in Santa Monica, grew up on Maui and first moved to the family-oriented Palisades about 10 years ago when he was single but ready to meet someone special.

“I was a single guy, but I thought I would change the vibe and get in the family vibe,” he said.

In 2012 he met Los Angeles native Angel, an attorney specializing in commercial litigation for Arnold & Porter, on eHarmony. By 2013, they married and now two years later, they have three children under the age of 2.

Ben and Lucas are taking over the honor from last year’s First Baby Ford William Chidsey, born to Erin and Darin Chidsey on Jan. 4, 2015.