• HOME
  • BEST OF PARTY PHOTOS
  • FEATURES
    • Best Of Cover Shoot
    • Pet Owner’s Stories
    • People
    • Places
    • Issues
    • Remembering
    • Things
    • To Do
  • DEPARTMENTS
    • Finance / Real Estate
      • Financial Articles
      • Real Estate
        • Real Estate Experts
        • Top 10 Most Expensive Homes Sold
        • Articles
    • Around Town
    • Business
      • Belle Hall Shopping Center
      • Lowcountry Women in Business
      • MP Business
    • Dwellings
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food & Drink
    • Giving Back
    • Health & Wellness
    • Love & Marriage
    • Pets
    • Relax & Retire
    • Sports & Fitness
  • Read Magazine
  • MORE MAGS
    • Charleston Women 👩‍🏫🏢
    • Lowcountry Cuisine 🧀🍷
    • Best of Mt Pleasant Mag 🏆🏆
    • MP Business Mag 🏢
    • MP Pets 🐶🐱
    • Charleston Independent School Directory 🏫
    • MP Senior Living 👴👵
    • More Mags
      • IOP Mag
      • SI Mag
      • MP Town Hall Magazine
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Attorney Directory
    • 2025 Charleston Wedding Venues
    • Pool Builders/Services Directory
    • Financial Planners
    • Mount Pleasant Area Hotel Directory
    • East Cooper Worship Guide
    • East Cooper Fitness Directory
    • Senior Living Directory
    • 2023 Local CPA Tax Directory
    • Mount Pleasant Apartment Directory
  • SUBSCRIBE

Mount Pleasant Magazine

Mount Pleasant Magazine is the premier lifestyle magazine for Mount Pleasant, SC. Read about local news, events, businesses, people, and more. Subscribe today or read our digital magazine online.

  • Best of Mount Pleasant
    • 2025 Best of Mount Pleasant Including Previous Years
    • Best of Mount Pleasant Winner Articles
    • Best Of Party Photos
  • Podcasts
    • Mount Pleasant Podcast
    • Carolina Real Estate Podcast
    • Georgetown the Podcast
    • Coastal Home Podcast Video Tour
    • Best of Mount Pleasant Podcast
    • Hammock Coast Podcast
    • More Podcasts
      • Charleston Women Podcast
      • Isle of Palms Podcast
      • Charleston Pet Podcast
      • Charleston Wedding Podcast
  • Top Ten Homes Sold
  • Advertise
    • Advertise With Us
    • Media Kit
    • Video Testimonials
  • About Our Team
  • MORE
    • Real Estate Experts
    • MP Town Hall
    • Attorney Directory
    • News
    • MP Neighborhoods
    • East Cooper Online Network
    • Contact

Meet the First Babies: 2012 Stork Basket Winner

Posted by MPM Leave a Comment

On Jan. 1, 2012, at 5:44 p.m., doctors announced to Robert and Rhonda Kelly, “It’s a girl!”

Abigail Lilly Kelly, Mount Pleasant’s first baby of 2012. Photo credit: Kayla Jones Photography.

The blessed event was overwhelming for the Kelly clan, but it also was a big deal for Mount Pleasant. At 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 inches long, Abigail Lilly Kelly became the town’s New Year’s baby and the winner of the 2012 Mount Pleasant Magazine First Baby Stork Basket. East Cooper Medical Center was a winner as well, in a friendly competition with Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital to see which facility would welcome the town’s first little one.

“I think it’s awesome,” Rhonda, the proud new mom, said. “I really wanted her to be born on the first.”

Rhonda wanted it so badly that she prayed for a New Year’s Day delivery. When she went into labor at 8 a.m., she was confident – or at least hopeful – that her prayers would be answered.

“Whenever we were in labor, we asked if she was the first because there was nobody else on the labor and delivery side,” Rhonda recalled.

When another mom-to-be arrived, Rhonda’s medical team increased her dose of Pitocin, a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin, to speed up the delivery.

“I’m very competitive so I was like, ‘Bring it on,’” Rhonda laughed.

Mount Pleasant Magazine Editor Margaret Ann Michels presented the 2012 First Baby Stork Basket to the Kelly family at East Cooper Medical Center. The basket was valued at more than $1,000.

The Kellys were pleased to learn that they did indeed have the first East Cooper Medical Center baby of the year. Later, they found out that Abigail was the first baby born in Mount Pleasant and that they would receive the Mount Pleasant Magazine First Baby Stork Basket.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Rhonda. “I’ve never won anything before, so this is exciting.”

After a taxing pregnancy, Rhonda was happy to have a relatively easy delivery. Her first look at her baby girl was a moving experience.

“It was heaven,” she explained. “It was absolutely amazing. When they took her away to clean her up, I was like, ‘No, I need her back.’”

Robert Kelly is equally head over heels, probably because Abigail is the first girl born in the Kelly family in two generations.

When he looked at her, he explained, “I thought she was just as beautiful as she is now. She’s gorgeous. I’m a big softy. It’s a whole new world. It’s exciting.”

2012 Mount Pleasant Magazine First Baby Stork Basket valued at over $1000.

Abigail is named after Robert’s favorite biblical character; her middle name is for Rhonda’s favorite flower. She joins a blended family. Rhonda’s 10-year-old son, Sequoyah, Robert’s 8-year-old son, William, and Robert’s 12-year-old son, Scott, are enjoying having a baby sister.

“They love her,” Rhonda explained. “They’re coming around to tea time. They think tea time will be fun when she grows up.”

The Kellys say their three boys and little girl are enough for them. As their last child, it is extra special to have so much hoopla surrounding her New Year’s Day arrival.

“We prayed for a girl, so we got our wish,” said Rhonda.

The Runner Up …

A few hours after East Cooper Medical Center celebrated its first 2012 birth, Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital said hello to Joshua Wyatt Wexler – who goes by Wyatt – the son of Suzanna Beam and Josh Wexler.

As the runner-up from Roper St. Francis Hospital, Wyatt Wexler received a complimentary professional photo shoot from Kayla Jones Photography. Photo credit: Kayla Jones Photography.

The little guy arrived at 11:21 p.m., weighing in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. Suzanna said she went into the hospital at around 11 a.m. Her doctors induced labor, and she finally delivered Wyatt 12 hours later.

“He just opened up his big blue eyes and looked at me. It was so sweet,” Suzanna said. “I just started bawling I was so excited.”

Leading up to the big day, Suzanna and her family wondered if they might have a New Year’s baby.

“We were making jokes about it all the time. What if we had a New Year’s baby, and then it happened,” Suzanna laughed.

Wyatt is Suzanna’s first child. Of course, she’s tired, but she’s also grateful for her special 2012 gift.

“Oh I love it. It’s exhausting. It has its up and downs, but, at the end of the day, it’s all worth it,” she noted. “He has the sweetest temperament. He does not fuss unless he needs a diaper change, is hungry or is cold.”

Businesses that contributed to the 2012 First Baby Stork Basket

Byline: Story by Amy Kehm

Photo Credit: Photography by Kayla Jones and Jason Bennett

Sharing is Caring

Possibly Related:

Kristie Radford and her family.The Gift of Family: Adapting to Adoption

Filed Under: People

Advertisement

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search The Site

We're on Facebook We're on X (formerly Twitter) Mount Pleasant Magazine Youtube Channel We're on Pinterest Mount Pleasant Magazine Facebook Community We're on Instagram
Ad: South Carolina Federal Credit Union, enjoy life banking on the best.
Ad: Visit Woof Gang today!
Mount Pleasant Magazine Sep/Oct 2023 magazine coverREAD DIGITALLY
Read the digital magazine
now.
GRAB A COPY
Where can I pick up a copy of Mount Pleasant Magazine?
SUBSCRIBE
Get Mount Pleasant Magazine Delivered.
Ad: Premier Health and Wellness in Mount Pleasant, SC. Let’s Redesign Your Health & Wellness.
Read about the History of the Bridge Run
Visit Palmetto Christian Academy.org
Ad: 1st Choice AC, Heating, Plumbing and Gas, for the best AC Service for your home in Mount Pleasant, SC.
Pleasant Family Dentistry in Mount Pleasant, SC. Experience the BEST, and find out why we've been awarded 7 times in the BEST of MOUNT PLEASANT!
Ad: Visit Front Beach IOP and SHOP, DINE and DRINK in the SUNSHINE.
Ad: Get Carried Away - Real Food, Real Southern, Really Good!
Click for Stores & Services
on Coleman Boulevard
Coleman Blvd Merchant Alliance
Best of Mount Pleasant logo is a registered trademark
Ad: Every Day is a Good Dog Day at Michael's Barkery

Most Recent Posts

Georgetown, SC Rising: A Look at the City’s Dramatic Growth & Downtown Revival

Join host Scott Richards and Main Street Director Al Joseph for an insightful look into the remarkable transformation sweeping across Georgetown, SC. This video dives deep into the revitalization of … Continue Reading

The Rotary’s Biggest Splash: 2025 Charleston Duck Race in the Wando!

The Charleston Duck Race is back on the Wando River! Tune in as Evan Murray, the 'Head Duck' Fundraising Chair, joins host Brian Cleary to reveal all the details about this highly anticipated … Continue Reading

Paved with Passion: Morales Pavers

Morales Pavers started with a simple mission: to transform outdoor spaces and convert them into something people could truly enjoy. But what makes this family-owned business stand out isn’t just the … Continue Reading

Front Street Georgetown

Opening Batch: Georgetown Crafts First Brewery

A craft beer fan and teacher from Cincinnati, Chase Runyan started brewing in his house by tinkering with kits and learning how to bottle the beer after fermentation. After making five or six batches … Continue Reading

Revolutionized: Georgetown’s Downtown Makeover

When the port city of Georgetown was laid out in 1729, merchant-oriented businesses and homes lined the land side of Front Street, originally called Bay Street, overlooking the sparkling Sampit River, … Continue Reading

Gold Standard: Georgetown’s Own Crowned Olympic Champion

When 23-year-old Nike athlete and Georgetown native Melissa Jefferson arrived at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June, she was determined to secure her … Continue Reading

More Front Street Georgetown

SEARCH

Get Our Free Newsletter!
Mount Pleasant Apartments
Pleasant Family Dentistry
Water's Edge Dentistry
34 Waterway Island Drive

Copyright © 2025 · Mount Pleasant Magazine, All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy

▲