The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-01-07, Page 3AIL
Week 2
. Year 1
aro w.valorleasliaalstar.con
125
xst included
Brakes • Exhaust
Suspension
Tires • Tune Ups
Oil Changes
Computer Diagnostics
318 H
51
Fond Farewell
Firefighting heavyweight
Mike O'Brien has hung up
his helmet after a lifetime
behind the hose Pg. 4
Photo by Dominique Milburn
It was -little Taylor Grace Vanderburgh, the vocal first born to proud parents Loni and Trevor Vanderburgh who won the race to become the
area's first photographed baby, though Hudson Cole Ireland was the official first arrival, born in London at 5:44 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2009.
Pony up
Humn County residents
are celebrating success after
the Quarter Horse World
Show and Sak Pg. 23
Sports pg 22
Editorial pg 6
Entertainment . . pg 27
Classifieds pg 14
It was a race to the finish for area babies
Dominique Milburn
signal -star staff
Although the competition was
stiff, 2009 was kicked off with
three births that have been de-
scribed by all first-time parents as,
"easy."
"It was a lot more laid back than
I thought it would be," said Rob
Ireland, first time daddy to. Hud-
son Cole, born in the early hours
of Jan. I.
Hudson Cole arrived at 5:44 a.m.
at St. Joseph's Hospital in London
weighing 5 lbs and 9 ounces.
"It's kind of weird how easy it
was," Ireland added.
Easy for dad to say, but he re-
ported that mom, Roberta (nee:
Vance).is doing well at their home
in Port Albert, and was even the
New Year's baby herself.
Although quick to deliver, the
Ireland clan wasn't the first to re-
port their New Year bundle of joy.
"It's going good," said new par-
ents Trevor and Loni Vanderburgh
(nee: Hugill) from their home in
• Carlow on Monday, with five-day
old Taylor Grace tucked between
the two.
The couple became the proud,
first-time parents of the first baby
born to Goderich's surrounding
north east area at 11:58 a.m. Jan.
1 at Stratford Hospital, and ap-
parently, little Taylor gave them a
pretty easy ride, too.
"I wasn't really scared or ner-
vous," said Loni with an easy
smile. "It was pretty exciting until
the pain kicked in." ,
Little Taylor announced her in-
tentions shortly after the couple
returned home from a New Years.
Eve gathering. Just past 3 a.m.,
they were in the car and en route
to Stratford General where they
would have what Loni called a
"pretty quick" stop in the deliv-
ery room. The natural birth took
just under eight hours, and Tay-
lor arrived weighing 7lbs and 12
ounces.
But with more than 10 babies
born in the. Stratford ward on Jan.
1, Taylor had competition, even in
the delivery room.
"She was just ahead of us," new
mom Tracy Saunders said from
her home in Blyth. Tracy and her
husband, Tim, were checked into
the hospital at the same time, and
ran a close race to the finish.
"I was only in hard labour for 20
minutes," said Tracy. "Which is
pretty good for a first-time mom,
they tell me."
Tim and Tracy welcomed 6 lbs,
8 ounce Travis John just 22 min-
utes after Taylor Grace arrived, at
12:20 p.m.
"Everyone came home with
healthy little babies, so that's all
that matters," Tracy added.
Following years of tradition,
the areas first baby has been wel-
comed in style, with more than 50
gifts and certificates for baby and
parents from local businesses.
190 Suncoast Dr. E,
Goderich
524-2125
www.ynicasacorg
41.0411-47