Ann Caroline Gambel arrived at 1:30 a.m. Thursday to ring in the New Year as St. Tammany Parish’s first baby in 2009. Weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, she caused a lot of excitement for mom Cathy and dad Douglas. Even older brother James, 3, was excited about his little sister.

“James has been so excited, he wanted Christmas to be over so he could see the baby. He even wanted us to just go to the hospital and bring one home from the nursery,” said Cathy.

Douglas agreed. “He’s been excited since day one.”

Dr. Albert Tydings, obstetrician, and nurse Angie Bodie congratulate mother and father Cathy and Douglas Gambel on the birth of daughter Ann Caroline, first baby born in 2009 in St. Tammany Parish. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

A teacher at Champ Cooper Junior High in Tangipahoa Parish, Cathy normally teaches seventh-grade English language arts and math but for now is on sabbatical. Dad owns Stitch and Print in Mandeville. The family resides in Ponchatoula.

Dr. Albert Tydings, Cathy’s obstetrician, also delivered the first baby of 2008. “It’s happened to me seven or eight times, but I just love delivering babies. It’s fun, enjoyable and always a special occasion,” said Tydings. “Ann is a symbol of optimism for 2009.”

In fact, last year’s mom, Destiny Route, was due again this year at the same time, but her second child arrived a month early. The two moms congratulated each other on their newborns. Route added the first baby of the year attention can be quite tiring when recovering from the birth experience.

“This baby symbolizes the continuing circle of life and growth,” said Jason Cobb, CEO of Lakeview.

Also congratulating the couple, Cobb said it’s exciting for Lakeview to have the first baby honor for two successive years.

At Slidell Memorial Hospital, the first baby born Thursday was Emma Skye Hartenstein, daughter of Lindsey Millington and Jack Hartenstein. She was born at 9:24 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. She is the Slidell couple’s first child.

The third baby of the new year was born at Northshore Regional Medical Center in Slidell. Gabriela Silessi was born at 1:30 p.m. to Kristen and Greg Silessi. She was 8 pounds, 5 ounces at birth and is their first child.

Kynleigh Addison Hoffield, daughter of Kristen and Keith Hoffield of Hammond, was born at 7:27 p.m. at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington.

Melissa Hodgsen, spokesperson for the hospital, said she weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 18 inches long. She has an older sibling, Kerrigan.