The newest arrival in Centre Wellington was only in town for a few days before heading home to Drayton.
The New Year’s baby at Groves Hospital in Fergus arrived at 4:56am on Jan. 3.
Weighing in at 9lbs., 6oz., baby girl Alexis was born to Chantel Robinson and her husband, John Vandenberg. Alexis is a little sister for 2-year-old Breanna. The family lives in Drayton.
Centre Wellington Welcome Wagon representatives Jennifer Law, Patti Klein and Helen Marucci presented the couple with nearly 70 gifts from local, area and national businesses packed in six Green Bins donated by Zehrs in Fergus. The estimated value of the gifts is about $900.
Vandenberg said “We’re very grateful for all the gifts.”
Robinson commented she wasn’t expecting to have the New Year’s baby on the third day of the year. Her due date was Dec. 28. Marucci noted that Groves’ new year’s baby has been as late as Jan. 7.
Welcome Wagon representatives across Canada volunteer to coordinate first baby projects every December. They’ve been doing so in Centre Wellington since January, 1999.
Marucci noted the gifts were for both the baby and the family as well. Law said there were over 70 sponsors this year in Centre Wellington for the presentation.
“We’re very thankful they did that for us for our new year’s baby,” said Robinson.
Though the Welcome Wagon starts collecting in November, Marucci said most of it came in the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
When asked if she planned to have any more children, Robinson quipped that after two nine-pound girls, “That’s enough.”
The following is a list of gifts presented via the Centre Wellington Welcome Wagon to the first new mother of 2011 in Groves Hospital, Fergus:
Centre Wellington Welcome Wagon representatives are Jennifer Law who co-ordinates the Baby Welcome program, Patti Klein and Helen Marucci.
This has been an annual event since January 1999 when Helen Marucci originated a First New Mom of the Year gift collection to be presented at Groves.
The following gifts were listed within an e-mail sent by Marucci .
Aesthetic Studio (Ruth Spitzer), Manicure;
Avon by Pat Radford, basket of products;
Bath Solutions, scrubbie on a stick and invitation for a free bar of soap;
Ben Heather Celtic Shop, Nessie monster ornament;
Big Monkey Little Monkey, Whoozit activity book;
Blue Pine Janitorial Services, Shoppers gift cards;
Brodericks for Her, pair of socks for mom;
Brodericks Men’s Wear, pair of socks for dad;
Box Social, gift certificate;
Chanticleer, rooster tea light holder;
Michael Chong MP, Canadian flag;
Canadian Baby Photographers, growth chart;
CIBC, piggy bank, thermal bag, water bottle;
Creative Memories by Wendy Galloway, mini album;
Dairy Queen, cake;
Day Spa, Hand treatment and bath soak;
Definition Fitness, trial membership and Definition Dollars certificate;
Dixon Home Hardware Building Centre, Tea for One infuser and piggy bank;
Drimmie Florists, metal frog ornament;
Ecclestone Financial Group, coin set;
Elora True Value Hardware , Baby’s first picture book and infant nail clipper;
Fancy That Cake by Kellie Barclay, 4” Smash cake;
Fergie’s Fine Foods, gift certificate
Fergus Community Market, assorted gifts from various market merchants;
Fergus Fireplace, book;
Fergus Printing, free colour copies;
Fergus Truck Show, Four adult passes to 2011 show on Saturday, July 23;
Fraberts, Alcohol-free Sparkling Wine for mom;
Grand Gourmet, Baby feeding set and bib/apron to match;
Hair by Linda, Styling volumizer mousse;
Hands to Work, Dr. Seuss book;
Hanscomb Glass, star suncatcher ornament;
Tim Horton’s, Coffee mug & gift certificate;
I Love Chocolate!, certificate for a pound of fudge;
Dr. Alan Israel, family package of oral care products;
Jammed Lovely, ruffled leather camera case/change purse;
Jesters, toys and gift certificate;
Joanie’s, duck rattle;
Karger Gallery, ceramic baby polar bear;
Ken Weeks Automotive Centre, pair of Kenny bears;
Klein Production Services, baby wipes;
L&M Supermarkets, gift certificate;
Magicomedy by Peter Marucci, Harry Potter Gringotts Vaults bank;
Mary Kay Cosmetics: Dawn Stone, tube of hand cream;
Mermaid Antiques, pendant watch on chain;
Primerica – Nathan Lee, stuffed toy;
Re:Treat, necklace;
Roxanne’s, kid’s book and baby book;
Royal Bank, piggy banks, travel mug, pens;
St. John Ambulance, first aid course;
Salon Chique (Jennifer Shrive), shampoo, haircut & blow-dry;
Sante, baby and mom skin creams;
Schelter Office Pro, Copy Centre gift certificate;
Somthin’ Fishee, take out cod and chips;
The Source (B/J Electronics), massaging dog cushion;
State Farm Insurance, gift basket;
Symmetry, Umbra crunch container;
Tupperware by Wendy Galloway, bowl and lid;
Uptown Cafe, gift certificate;
USC Education Savings Plan, magnetic picture frames;
Wellington County Library, book;
Wilkins Jewellers, stainless steel baby cutlery place setting;
World of Dollar Plus, basket of gifts; and,
Zehrs, six Green Bins to hold all the gifts.
