When Amanda Giesige went into labor with Wood County’s first baby of the new year, she didn’t have any
trouble figuring out how to find the admissions department at Wood County Hospital.
Nor did she need any hospital employee to point out the way to the elevator for the obstetrical wing.
That’s because unlike any other "first mom of the year" in memory, Giesige is herself a Wood
County Hospital employee. She’s a project leader in the information technology department.
Giesige was, however, "very surprised" to find that she’d won 2011 New Year’s honors.
So was her husband, Joshua.
"I was Baby of the New Year of 1978 at Henry County Hospital," he said, "and that was on
the 4th (of January), in the middle of a blizzard. And we figured ‘that will never happen again.’"

But Wood County’s collective population of babies in utero were obviously in no hurry to make an
appearance. None were born Jan. 1. None arrived Jan. 2, or even by lunchtime the following day.
It wasn’t until the Giesiges of Bowling Green welcomed the arrival of baby Amelia Noelle at 4:02 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 3, that Wood County finally had its New Year Baby.
Amelia was delivered by Dr. Ian Leggat and weighed in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces.
Her middle name, Noelle, is a nod to the just-past Christmas holidays, dad confirmed. "We just
changed the spelling to make it a little unique."
Also welcoming Baby Amelia is 4 1/2-year-old Lola, who was greatly enjoying her "big sister"
status Tuesday at the hospital.
"She’s the gatekeeper of Amelia. She makes everybody that wants to hold (the baby), ask her
permission!" said Joshua.
Knowing that she had a January due date, Amanda’s special delivery was also much anticipated by
co-workers at the hospital, where she kept on working right up until New Year’s Eve.
"They were eagerly awaiting her up here (on the OB floor)," said Joshua.
The couple, Edgerton natives, are both Bowling Green State University graduates. Joshua also is employed
locally, at Huntington Bank of Bowling Green.