CLEARLAKE — Honey Mae Abbot, born at 8:48 A.M. on Saturday, is the first baby of the new year in Lake County. The first-born of parents Angela Mittelstedter, 29, a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and Wyatt Abbott, 23, a carpenter, of Clearlake. They named their daughter after her maternal grandmother and paternal great grandmother.
“We decided on her name as soon as the pregnancy test came back positive. My Momma is honored,” said Mittelstedter.
Originally due on Christmas day, Honey Mae made her vocal appearance after 36 hours of labor at six pounds, 10 ounces and 19.75 inches long.
Mittelstedter said her birthing team was a blessing. “It was a long labor,” she said, “but the staff here a St. Helena Clearlake (Adventist) has been nothing but simply amazing, super helpful and supportive. Dr. Fordham was our doctor during our pregnancy but Dr. (Derrick) Barnes delivered our beautiful blessing Honey.”
“COVID has been super rough and hard to deal with especially with it being our first child and Wyatt not being able to go to any doctors’ appointments because it was against the COVID protocols.”
“Wyatt was there to help deliver our beautiful daughter into this world and has been extremely supportive the whole time. The birthing team made me feel safe and was super wonderful with all the COVID protocols and cleanliness.”
“This is all still new to me. I grew up with my parents raising foster care children so I’ve been used to taking care of children so even with Honey Mae being our first born we’ll be okay. She’s pretty calm and content — so far.”
The hospital said on Sunday afternoon that Mittelstedter and Honey Mae were getting ready to go home. Mittelstedter said that Abbott had run home to get things ready for Honey’s homecoming. She laughed, “He set up the whole house all over again. He’ll be here shortly.”
Being the first baby born in Lake County in 2021, Adventist Hospital gave the couple a huge assortment of goods for the baby. “She got spoiled for sure,” said Mittelstedter.
The friendly competition between Adventist and Sutter hospitals to see which one will deliver the first baby of the new year has been going on for years, said one of the staff.
“It’s been a great start to the new year for our whole family. I’ve prayed for her for a long time,” said Mittelstedter.
