Lassy Misoles Abbott and Ben Abbott with six-day-old Joshua at their Blaxland home.While baby Joshua may look sleepy now, his parents hope he will be all fired-up and play for the Panthers one day.
Baby Joshua Abbott did everything he could to avoid being born in 2012 and as a result was the first Blue Mountains baby born in 2013.
Coming into the world at 9.48pm on January 1 after a 13 hour labour, Joshua John Abbott was 10 days overdue and had three visits to Nepean Hospital after his due date but still wasn’t ready to face the world until the new year.
“On December 31 we came back again to the hospital but they still said ‘No, he’s not ready’,” mum, Lassy Misoles Abbott said.
“Even the midwife said he took his time,” Dad, Ben Abbott added.
Mrs Abbott, 29, endured a drug-free birth with only the last two hours particularly painful, she said.
Weighing in at 3.585 kg and 52 cms long, Mr Abbott, 34, hopes those statistics might stack in their son’s favour if all goes to plan and he gets to line up for the Panthers in the future.
“I hope he can play for Penrith,” the avid Panthers fan said. “As long as he supports the Panthers,” he added smiling.
A former player with the Penrith Waratahs, Mr Abbott already has a pint-sized jersey for his tiny son with the number 13 on it for former Penrith player — captain and lock forward Luke Lewis.
A thoroughly modern couple, the Abbotts decided to forgo actual birthing classes, preferring to watch births on YouTube and read books in preparation. And taking advice from their vet, they brought the baby’s blanket home early, to help their two cattle dogs Ned and Bonny adjust to the new addition.
“They lay with the blanket for two days before he got back and as soon as we got home they just looked up and sniffed,” Mr Abbott said.
“Whenever he cries the boy dog comes and sits by the bassinet.”
With Mrs Abbott’s parents in the Phillipines, Mr Abbott said the couple was very grateful for the help of his parents, sister Beck, friends Lyn and Danny Williamson and their midwife Faye.
Joshua was among the top 10 most popular Australian boys names in 2012 but dad says their first born, seen here sleeping through his photo shoot, would most likely be known as just JJ.