First Baby of 2020 Arrives in Palisades

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The First Baby in Pacific Palisades of 2020, a tradition honored by the Palisadian-Post since 1954, has arrived in El Medio Bluffs.

Michelle Homme welcomed Dashiell Cove Homme at 9:53 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, at UCLA Santa Monica.

“I’ve had so many milestones just in the last four weeks,” Homme shared of her time with Dashiell, her first baby.

Over the course of the last month, Michelle said that she has learned the importance of having his needs met, including keeping diapers clean, making sure Dashiell is warm and checking for the most basic things.

“As long as you have the basic needs met, everything will be so much easier,” Michelle said.

She touched on the importance of sleep: “Get sleep … when I need to get help, that’s usually the most important thing.”

Michelle recommended that new parents take time to nap during the day when their schedule allows.

“Because you can’t parent if you’re tired, you can’t be a good parent,” she added.

Homme explained that though she has only lived in the Palisades for about a year-and-a-half, she has a long history with the community, including having friends who were born and raised in town.

When asked what she is looking forward to showing Dashiell in the Palisades, Michelle said she can’t wait to show him the hikes and hanging out on the grass in Temescal.

“Will Rogers State Beach and meeting my friends’ kids, walking in the village,” Michelle added.

Michelle and Dashiell will receive a prize package with gifts from local businesses, including Caffe Luxe, Kayndaves, Canale-Martinez Salon, Sweet Laurel, Nell-eez, Bay Theatre by Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, The Pump Station, Palisades Garden Café, Caffe Delfini, Black Ink and This Girl Walks Into A Bar. The Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club gifted a handmade blanket.

Ella Mae Gowing, born January 24 at 8:17 a.m., is the Post’s runner-up First Baby of 2020.

In 2019, the first baby was born on January 16, in 2018, on January 11, and in 2017, January 3.

In 2016, for the first time in First Baby contest history, there was not just one winner, but two: twins Benjamin James Nakamura and Lucas Alexander Nakamura arrived on January 9.