Baby Alyssa?s first year; wait begins for ?09 New Year?s baby
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
Alyssa Rayann Smigelski is ending her reign as the Advance’s New Year’s Baby. The daughter of Jim and Cheryl Smigelski of Posen, she was born January 12, 2008 at Alpena Regional Medical Center. She is the couple?s first child. They?ve been married 12 years.
“It is just amazing how much she has changed and grown in the year, from not being able to do anything for herself, to having her own little personality,” said Cheryl, commenting on Alyssa’s first 11 ? months.
The Smigelski’s living room was decorated Sunday with a tall Christmas tree in the corner. On the floor of the Smigelski?s living room were some of her favorite toys. Her favorite is a miniature house front with a door that opens, a light switches on and off, and a place to put mail.
Cheryl said Alyssa enjoyed the wrapping paper on Christmas morning more than what was waiting for her to play with inside.
She’s mastered crawling, scooting and can get up and down the basement stairs with ease. Alyssa also can say ?mom,? ?dad? and ?hello.? She has a plastic telephone receiver she?ll put close to her ear with the listening and speaking device facing down on her shoulder.
ALONG WITH being able to feed herself, and not wanting anybody helping her, the couple has taught her the sign language symbol for milk. “She’s doing really well,” said Cheryl. Alyssa?s favorite family dog, Ruger, als
Alyssa has been learning to keep some of the new teeth that are coming in cleaned and shined by learning at an early age to brush them, especially since her mother is a dental hygienist. Cheryl was born January 2, 1971 at Rogers City Hospital, but her parents did not win the contest 38 years ago.
Proud grandparents are Jim and Lorraine Smigelski, and Art and Barb Chojnacki. Like baby Alyssa, the first baby?s parents will be the recipient of many gifts and services from area merchants.
The winning baby must be born on, January 1, 2009, or after midnight, December 31, 2008, to residents of Presque Isle County, excluding the Onaway Area School District because of the contest conducted by The Onaway Outlook. Entries must be submitted at the Advance office within 48 hours after the child’s birth.