As Mark Molina spoke to his hours-old son Friday — welcoming him to the world as the premature baby’s fingers clutched one of his — his voice seemed to soothe his son’s cries.

Perhaps the baby could hear his father Thursday afternoon when Molina told a co-worker that he wished his son would be born on New Year’s Day.

That wish seemed unrealistic, Molina said, since his and girlfriend Crystal Rodriguez’s son wasn’t due until mid-February.

But Malachi Felix Molina couldn’t wait, and at about 2 a.m. Friday, he was born — screaming at the world with a full head of hair and peeing on a nurse, his father said.

Malachi was the first baby born in Denton in 2010 at any birthing facility in the city.

Rodriguez left work Thursday afternoon suspecting that her water had broken, which was later confirmed at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton.

Molina said he recently joked with a co-worker about wanting his son as a New Year’s present.

“I was shocked,” he said. “I said it would be nice if he’d come for New Year’s, but … I thought she [Crystal] was playing at first.”

The serious contractions didn’t start until about 11 p.m., Rodriguez said.

Shortly before 2 a.m., and with only two pushes in the delivery room, Malachi was born, weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 18 1/2 inches long, the couple said.

“It’s a great feeling — there are no words that can explain it,” Molina said. “I was so glad that he came and that he’s healthy.”

While doctors were concerned for prematurely born Malachi, Molina said he knew his son was going to be healthy.

Malachi was placed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for observation and has been given some caffeine to help regulate his breathing, which he’s doing fine, Molina said.

Molina, a first-time dad, said he’s proud of his son and recalled Rodriguez’s pregnancy as happy months of chatting with the baby in his mother’s womb and feeling him kick.

“I’d talk to him … and I’m pretty sure he knew me,” Molina said. “He’d kick or push where my hand was at. We would also always put headphones on her stomach, either slow music or rock ’n’ roll. He likes anything.”

As Malachi clutched his father’s finger Friday, he looked up and smiled.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.