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Big brother has big plans for first baby of the year
McCOOK, Nebraska -- Big brother Ethan has all sorts of plans for his new sister. He's excited about teaching her to ride a bike ... and all about the supplies she'll need to go to school.
"I'll teach her the words for pencils, and crayons, and glue, and scissors," Ethan bubbles. " And I'll teach her that 2 plus 2 is 4 and that 1 plus 1 is 2."
On Monday afternoon, Ethan had all the numbers right -- he's seven years old, and his new baby sister is just one -- one day old.
And, having been born on Jan. 2, Hope Elizabeth Marie Cacy is the McCook Daily Gazette's "New Year's Baby of 2011."
Hope is the new daughter of Judy and Mike Cacy of McCook, and she wasn't due until Jan. 22. "But my blood pressure wasn't cooperating with my pregnancy," Judy said Monday. Judy's doctor, Dr. Lori Reece, wouldn't even let her go home after a check-up Friday, and they worked, unsuccessfully, to stabilize her blood pressure. She couldn't even raise her head without raising her blood pressure, Judy said.
Mike said that Dr. Reece had planned to induce labor on Monday, but, with the risks associated with Judy's worsening blood pressure, she decided it would be safer to proceed with labor.
Hope was born at 2:09 a.m., Sunday, just missing a "January 1st Baby" designation, but still winning the Gazette's search for the first baby born in the new year.
Hope weighed 6 lbs. 6.2 oz., and measured 20 1/4 inches long. "She has huge feet," Mike laughed. "And long legs. But I'm just happy to have a healthy baby, and that Judy's doing better."
Hope's a sleepy little thing, and she couldn't be bothered to smile, or even open her eyes, for photographs. But the family's absolutely thrilled with her nonetheless.
"She's our surprise," Judy said, smiling at her tiny daughter. "We didn't think we could have any more after Ethan." Ethan arrived 10 weeks early, on July 7, 2003, and weighed only 3 lbs., 2 oz. "He spent his first month in Omaha," Mike said.
The couple wanted another child, so they worked with a specialist. Judy lost weight. And they hoped.
Their new daughter is named for that feeling, for that desire. "It's a special name that we liked," Mike said, explaining his and Judy's selection of their daughter's first name. Elizabeth is Judy's mother's middle name; Marie is the middle name of Judy's sister, Tina Cummins of McCook.
Ethan has hopes and dreams for his little sister. Until she's ready for bike-riding and for school, Ethan says he has another plan. "When she cries, I have a plan," he said, his eyes lighting up. "Maybe I can hold her, and rock her. And I can help Mom change her diaper .. and open the drawer ... "
Hope and Ethan are the grandchildren of Jim and Deb Cacy and Dan and Millie Corey, all of McCook, and Bill and Theresa Cash of Mullen. Their great-grandparents are Charlotte Cash of Mullen and Darky and Shirley Yonkers of Maywood.
As the winner of the Gazette's "First Baby of the New Year" search, Hope and her parents win a package of prizes and gifts from Renalle's Classic Hair Design, Farrell's Pharmacy and Hallmark Shop, MNB, Community Hospital of McCook, Walmart, Quality Urgent Care, Unique Boutique, ap Images, U-Save Pharmacy and Medical Supply, Tri Valley Health System and Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell.
The McCook Daily Gazette will award the new parents a one-year subscription to the newspaper.