Welcome to the world

ANTIGONISH, N.S. — ANTIGONISH - When Helen Mary MacDonald gets older, she is going to have a great story to tell.     
The newborn, daughter of Annie Livingstone and Tyler MacDonald of Arisaig, Antigonish County, was the first birth of 2020 in the Quad Counties.     
The world welcomed Helen Mary at 9:34 a.m., Jan. 1, in the Children and Women’s Health Unit of St. Martha’s Regional Hospital.     
She weighed eight pounds.     
“It’s very cool,” Annie said, with a smile, as she cuddled her buddle of joy that was wrapped in a quilt donated by the Highland Quilt Guild.     
Her New Year’s Day birth was unexpected, although Annie’s due date was Dec. 28. She checked into the unit Dec. 27, so Helen Mary’s arrival was expected sooner.     
“Maybe she knew what she was doing,” Tyler quipped.     
He noted “it will be easy to remember her birthday.”     
Annie joked it might be a milestone that becomes a tattoo one day.     
“She is good little girl,” Tyler said, as the apple of his eye snoozed while her mother rocked her in the family room Jan. 3.     
The couple praised the nurses and doctors for everything they did.     
“Everyone was amazing,” Annie said.