Local News

Meet little Libby, the first Jewish baby of 5772

Courtesy Stephanie Relkin

By Emily K. Alhadeff, Assistant Editor, JTNews

The JTNews searched desperately to find its first baby of 5772. Was it possible that no Jewish babies were born between Rosh Hashanah and press time? Were the angels in heaven on strike?
Lo and behold, in the eleventh hour one came through. We are pleased to announce the birth of Libby Brooke Sarne, born October 1 to Stephanie Relkin and Jason Sarne.
On her new role as first-time mom: “So far so good,” Stephanie says. “I’m just a little tired.”
Stephanie, 42, is thankful to have had a natural and healthy pregnancy, even though Libby was delivered through an emergency cesarean section at Overlake Hospital. During her last 45 minutes of labor everything just went crazy, Stephanie said. The baby had stopped breathing.
Thankfully, she pulled through. Libby Brooke as born at 4:09 p.m. and weighed in at 7 lbs., 5 oz., measuring 19-3/4 inches. She is named for her maternal great-grandmother, Lillian (Libby in Yiddish) and Lillian’s brother, Bob.
Stephanie and Jason moved to Bellevue about a year and a half ago from New York so Stephanie could take on the position of senior art director at Eddie Bauer. Once she goes back to work, Jason will take over childcare duties.
The couple is not yet affiliated with a congregation, but Stephanie, who grew up in the Conservative movement, says she is leaning toward Herzl-Ner Tamid.
After the interview, Stephanie sent an email with one more undeniable message: “We couldn’t imagine our lives without her.”