As of Tuesday, Elijah Enochs is believed to be in the lead in the race to be the first baby of 2010 born to San Juan County parents.

Elijah, the son of Lindsay Johnson and Justin Enochs of Wold Road on San Juan Island, is due Jan. 10 at Islands Hospital in Anacortes. Melinda Milligan of Eastsound is midwife.

“He’s due on the 10th, but I have a feeling it may be later,” said Johnson, 26, a hairstylist at Christy’s Salon. “I feel fine. I’m walking everyday and exercising.”

According to Lisa Howard, Jessica Johnson who works at Wells Fargo bank in Friday Harbor is expecting a baby girl on Jan. 15. “She is in the running for first baby born in 2010 too.”

Each baby has some incentive to be first. The first baby of the year will receive about $600 worth of prizes from 16 local merchants in The Journal’s Baby Derby:

— Be Chic Boutique
— Browne’s Home Center
— Cannery House Restaurant
— Friday Harbor Drug
— Friday Harbor MarketPlace
— Island Market
— Islanders Bank
— King’s Market
— Lopez Village Market
— Osito’s
— Petro San Juan/Pacific Pride
— Post San Juan
— Roche Harbor’s McMillin’s Restaurant
— San Juan Jewels
— Structural Bodywork
— The Toy Box