We are most pleased
to announce the
arrival of Abigail
Gilpin Ellsworth, a.k.a. Boo.
Abby arrived on Monday, Jan.
18, 2010 at 8:13 p.m., weighing
in at six pounds, seven
ounces and measuring 19.25
inches in length. On hand for
her arrival were her mother
Annie, something which no
doubt goes without saying,
her father, Christopher, and
her maternal grandmother,
Judy Higby.
Christopher stayed at the
hospital with Annie and Abby
as he told us he just could
not be parted from the baby.
This left Grandmother Higby
to travel from the hospital
in Westerville, Ohio to the
house in Mount Vernon, Ohio
to care for the two dogs,
three cats, two goldfish and
two lizards. She also had to
take the cell phone chargers
from the house to the
hospital as the parents had
forgotten to take them with
them. Needless to say, the
cell phones rather quickly,
given their great use, lost
their charges.
We must admit that we
were delighted to have received
via the e-mail a cell
phone photo of Abby taken
and sent within an hour
of her birth. We have since
received three more photos
via e-mail and have viewed
13 more of the family’s
hospital stay via Facebook.
Plus we feel quite fortunate
that we are able to call Ohio
to arrange for an iChat visit
with Abby. Thus far she has
not had much to say, but
we do know, for her size, she
has a very loud voice and
doesn’t hesitate to use it to
express her displeasure with
something.
For example, during one
iChat visit, Christopher
unwrapped her to show us
her big feet something we
believe she inherited from
our side as many of our great
aunts, plus our mother, sported
a size 11 foot. After we had
admired the feet, Christopher
did not immediately wrap her
back up and it did not take
her long to express her dislike
of the temperature of her
unwrapped self. He immediately
re-wrapped her and she
quickly fell asleep in his arms.
We suspect she has already
figured out how to rule the
roost.
Abby did her first visiting
of friends on her way home
from the hospital by stopping
by Peg and Tom Turgeon’s
home so they could properly
admire her, which we
understand they did. And she
has also received a visit from
her maternal grandfather, Hal
Higby, who we gather, based
on the picture we received,
was more than happy to take
on baby holding duty.
And we were somewhat
relieved to discover that
the dogs, Barnaby and
Bella, seem to be adapting to
Abby’s presence quite well.
We gather they have not
quite figured her out, but
seem to follow her around
no doubt because of all the
attention she receives. And if
there is one thing we know
about Barnaby and Bella, it is
that, if there is attention being
handed out, they would
like to be on the receiving
end of it.
Many people have asked
us when we will be going to
Ohio for a visit and
unfortunately we
have to say that it
will probably not be
anytime soon. At the
moment, we need to
stay in Cooperstown
as we are having a
series of procedures
done on our back
which we need to
complete. And we
would really like to figure out what is going on with our right
hand before we venture forth again. So, for a while at least,
our visits with Abby will be done via iChat. And while we
are anxious to be able to see her in person, we are happy to
avoid the possibility, at least for a while, that we might find
ourselves in the position of having to change a diaper.
In closing, we well remember that when Christopher
arrived some 35 years ago, we could not help but wonder
what the future held for him. And while he has experienced
setbacks along the way, we are indeed most proud of not
only what he has done but also of who he is. Thus, as we
contemplate little Abby’s future we hope she takes to heart
the following quote from Harriet Tubman who said: ``Every
great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you
have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion
to reach for the stars to change the world.’’
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Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail
at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
