Voting for SA’s cutest winter bub has closed
Voting for SA’s cutest winter arrival has closed. Stay tuned to meet our adorable winner!
Lifestyle
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During the cold winter months, newborn babies have brought warmth and joy into homes across South Australia and now it’s time to crown the state’s cutest.
We can all agree that there is nothing more adorable than a baby in a beanie or wrapped up in a warm blanket.
In Autumn, Annabelle Tregloan, the niece of the late Charlie Stevens was named the cutest baby of the season after her family’s story touched hearts across the state.
Earlier in the year Milah Di Raimondo was named SA’s cutest summer baby after mum Nikki Degabriele shared her rare en caul birth story.
Now The Advertiser is searching for the state’s cutest winter baby born in June, July or August of this year.
After receiving 100+ nominations of adorable bubs from across the state and putting them to a public vote, voting is now closed.
All of our super cute finalists are in the running but here are the 10 tots leading the race.
Stay tuned to meet our adorable winner who will be announced soon!
SCROLL DOWN TO MEET THE LEADING 10 CUTEST WINTER BABIES
ALFIE, NORWOOD
July baby, Alfie is known for his “impressive” head of hair and big brown eyes.
He makes his parents’ trips to the shops way longer as strangers just can’t resist stopping them to say hello to their adorable boy.
ARTHUR, BERRI
Arthur had a “dramatic and traumatic” entrance into the world after being born in the breech position.
“His head came out last and with it the placenta, meaning there was a short period where he had no blood or oxygen,” Arthur’s mun, Dajana said.
“We are so thankful for all the doctors, nurses and midwives who did everything they could to save our little angel.”
CALEB, ROYAL PARK
After being admitted to hospital for stomach pains, Caleb’s mum, Rhianna Swan was shocked when doctors informed her she would be giving birth in two hours time.
Read Caleb’s unbelievable birth story here.
HAZEL LOUISE, LOBETHAL
Hazel’s father, Tim Jenkin takes no credit for his daughter’s cute looks.
“She has the most perfect lips, beautiful blue eyes, cheekiest smile and looks nothing like her father,” he joked.
HUNTER, ELIZABETH NORTH
After experiencing a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, the Melis family welcomed their “miracle boy” in June.
“He is so loved, treasured and everything we had dreamed of,” Hunter’s mum, Shaylee Melis said.
MACKENZIE, WOODCROFT
Mackenzie arrived to her family exactly when they needed her.
After struggles with fertility and 11 rounds of IVF, Mackenzie’s doting parents first heard her heartbeat on their wedding anniversary.
“It was the best news we have ever received,” Mackenzie said.
MURPHY, NAIRNE
“Our little Murphy came into our lives when we needed a positive surprise,” Murphy’s mum, Christina McNicol said.
“Her arrival lives up to her name, if it can happen it will happen and that’s Murphy’s Law.”
NOAH RASCHELLA, MODBURY NORTH
Noah is possibly Port Adelaide’s youngest member after he was signed up by his parents after his 10-week gender test. Scroll down to read his story.
ROSEMAREE, LOBETHAL
Little RoseMaree was born at 33 weeks and beat the odds.
She is now happy and healthy at home with her loving brothers and sisters.
TAITUM-SCOTT, ELIZABETH PARK
While Taitum-Scott gave his mum terrible morning sickness throughout her pregnancy, she said he is “such a blessing’.
“We love him so, so much and adore him,” mum, Narelle Ritson said.
is Izabella Wakefield SA’s cutest winter arrival?
Just the day before a Strathalbyn mum was due to deliver her baby girl she was admitted to hospital for another “scary” reason
Natalie Wakefield was diagnosed with RSV and para-influenza forcing doctors to postpone her pre-booked Caesarian.
“I was so sick … so I stayed in hospital and was getting treated for that and then that’s when I went into labour a few nights later,” Ms Wakefield said.
“Because I had been positive to RSV they were very hesitant to take me into theatre straightaway.”
After enduring labour all night long, the second-time mum was taken into surgery for a Caesarian at 9cm dilated and forced to wear a mask.
“It was really stressful, because the doctors were telling me, ‘if you’ve got RSV and she’s got to be taken into the NICU for any reason, you won’t be able to visit her,’” she said.
“It was a bit scary.”
As a child care worker, Ms Wakefield knew she was at risk of contracting the flu during winter months so she went on maternity leave early and pulled her two-year-old out of childcare.
When baby Izabella finally arrived on August 11, the protective mum said the experience had changed the way she and her husband parented.
“It was very, very traumatic what we went through … every time someone wants to have a cuddle we say ‘wash your hands’ like straight away and we don’t let them kiss her at all at the moment,” she said.
“We’re not risking it yet.”
Or is Noah the cutest winter baby in SA?
Many South Aussies can say they have been Port Adelaide fans for life but three-month-old Noah Raschella has been a supporter since before he was born.
When his parents, Aaron and Claudia Raschella found out they were having a boy at ten weeks’ pregnant, they celebrated by signing up their unborn child as a Port Adelaide Football Club member.
“We did the Harmony test which looks at the baby’s sex and I got a call at work to say we were having a boy and I think I Facetimed Aaron pretty much immediately,” the Modbury North mum said.
“The next day he messaged me saying … ‘do you really like (the name) Noah’ and I said ‘yeah I really, really like it’ and he said ‘good because I’ve just joined him up as a Port Adelaide member,’.”
After pledging his son’s allegiance to the silver, teal, black and white online, Mr Raschella received a call from the club querying his application.
“They ended up calling me because there wasn’t a birthday on there,” Ms Raschella said.
“When they said ‘how old is he’, I said ‘he’s not born yet’ and they said that was pretty rare.
“We just laughed and said sometime next June.”
The couple were spot on with their prediction and welcomed their baby boy on June 4.
“We’re not sure if he’s the youngest (Port member) of the season but possibly close to it, I dare say,” Ms Raschella said.
The passionate supporters hope to take their newborn son to the grand final this year, if Port is able to pass the test against the Hawks at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
While they said Noah will have to “find another place to live” if he chooses a different footy team to barrack for, they hope he will share their love of the sport.
“He’s already 62cm tall and projected to be 6’3 – future ruck for the team perhaps?” Ms Raschella said.
“Maybe the next Charlie Dixon, who knows?”
Or could it be baby Alessandro?
Being the first grandchild on both sides of the family may seem like a lot of pressure, but for August-born bub, Alessandro Cenios being the star of the show comes naturally.
After a year of trying to fall pregnant, Rosslyn Park couple, Nina Canala and Alex Zenios welcomed their gorgeous little boy four weeks ago.
“It’s beautiful and amazing to see him and finally have him in our arms,” Ms Canala said.
“It’s been challenging as well, of course, motherhood and working out what he needs, and giving him everything that he needs and wants in the moment and trying to work it all out.”
The family are fortunate to be surrounded by a “big family” with first-time grandparents looking forward to spoiling their grandson.
“We have some very happy family (and) some very happy grandmothers, which is lovely,” Ms Canala said.
“We obviously want him to be happy and healthy and to follow his passions and live life to the fullest.”
Alessandro is already winning hearts with his “beautiful, big blue eyes” and “alert” personality.
“You just get captivated by his little face and his little expressions and it’s really beautiful to have those moments where he’s staring back at you and you feel the connection already, even though he’s only a few weeks old,” Ms Canala said.
Alessandro’s doting parents hope that he will follow in their footsteps and share their love for travelling.
“If there’s something he loves to do, (we hope) he just goes out and does it,” Ms Canala said.
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