Norwich — Once Lianna Noelle Robin was safely delivered into the world — at 3:19 a.m. Tuesday in Norwich's Backus Hospital, making her the first baby in the region for 2019 — her mother, Alexandra Robin, could relax a bit.

By noon, with her husband, Stephen Robin, Lianna's 2-year-old sister Vera, and plenty of relatives happily gathered, it was sushi time.

"I wasn't messing around," smiled Alexandra after lunch, Lianna comfortably sleeping in her arms. "I was pretty hungry and I've missed my sushi. But this was all worth it."

The dreamed-of sushi took a bit longer than expected given that Lianna's due date was Dec. 26. "We wondered if she'd be a Christmas baby," Alexandra said, "and we had a tiny silver tree ready to put in the car in case we were going to be in the hospital on Christmas Day. But we were able to celebrate at home."

As it turned out, Lianna, who is 21 inches long and weighed eight pounds and three ounces, wasn't the first 2019 baby in Connecticut; a baby boy was born at Yale New Haven Hospital at 12:54 a.m.

That's OK, though, with the Robin family. Lianna is another reason to celebrate the holidays.

"I hope when she and Vera grow up they'll enjoy and appreciate the festivities and being part of them," Alexandra said.

Vera, who turns 3 next month and wore a TOTALLY AMAZING T-shirt, appeared entranced by Lianna. With support from her father, who held her securely, Vera was more than happy to plant a kiss or two on Lianna's head. 

She also smiled when asked about her new sister and murmured shyly in a fashion that seemed not just joyful but also a bit amazed that this long-promised sibling actually materialized.

"I think Vera's a little surprised," Alexandra said. "She was asleep when we had to get to the hospital and she woke up with her grandmother rather than as usual in (her mother and father's) bed."

The Robins are originally from Providence and moved to Connecticut in 2011. Alexandra, 32, is a chiropractor and Stephen, 34, is a construction manager.

Alexandra and Lianna are scheduled to leave the hospital in the next day or so, and life will return to normal.

"We hoped for a January baby, and we just made it," Alexandra says. "Generally speaking, I think we're done with all the excitement for a while."