Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

January 4, 2007 issue

Ethan Greyson Lee Is Watauga County’s New Year Baby

Story by Celeste von Mangan

The waxing moon on New Year’s Eve night delivered heavy rains to the High Country. As the downpour started, labor pains also began for one expectant mother in Watauga County. By the afternoon of January 1, 2007, the rain had ended, the skies were clear and a new life had begun. Ethan Greyson Lee was born at 2:18 p.m. weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces and stretching 21 inches in length.

On the following day, his parents, Justin and Susan, celebrated their baby’s birth with a special meal provided by the Birthing Center at Watauga Medical Center. The luncheon included steak, chocolate iced layer cake, sparkling grape juice served in Champagne glasses and powder blue bubblegum cigars with “It’s A Boy!” emblazoned across them.

Baby Ethan arrived right on schedule.

“My due date was January first,” said Susan. “I was at home when I went into labor and we left for the hospital Birthing Center around 11:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. I was in labor for 12 hours, and Dr. Bruce Jackson was the attending physician.”

The family resides in Deep Gap, their home of six weeks. Ethan is the new sibling of older sister Alayla and older brother Lucas.

“We’re from Dunn, North Carolina,” said Justin. “I was offered a job in Ashe County a month and a half ago so we moved to Watauga County.”

Driving up from Dunn, paternal grandmother Sallie Carrol, maternal grandparents Nancy and Fred Hawley and aunts Chesley and Kathy arrived to meet and greet the newest member of their clan. High spirits prevailed, and when the classic question arose of what Ethan might become or do when he grows up, his father had the perfect answer:

“He can do whatever he wants to do.”

 

Sidebar

Timeline For A Baby Born In 2007

2025: 18 years old

2047: 40 years old

2072: 65 years old

2107: 100 years old

 

Cutline, NewYearBaby2007A:

The first baby of the 2007 New Year was born in Watauga County at 2:18 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Ethan Greyson Lee is pictured with his parents Susan and Justin. Photo by Celeste von Mangan