Since late spring, The Educator has noticed a crop of new babies in the Willow Springs School family. Here are the latest baby Bears. If you know of others, please let us know.

Josiah Tate Coursen was born on April 11, two months early, and weighed 4.5 lbs. His parents are Andrew and Audri Coursen.The very next day, April 11, fourth grade teacher Mrs. Lacy Reynolds and her husband Seth met Kixson Jude Reynolds for the first time. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long.On May 25 at 1:20 p.m. at Cox Hospital in Springfield, second grade teacher Mrs. Audrey Foster and her husband Scott named their baby girl Avery Ann Foster. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. “She is a sweet girl who loves to grin and coo,” says Mrs. Foster. Grandparents are Jim and Regina Owens and Steve and Karen Foster.

Then, June 14, Ruthie Maxine Wake was born to Mrs. Carolyn Wake and her husband Marvin. “We got to the hospital room at 11:11 a.m., and she was born shortly after at 12:24 p.m.! We barely made it!” said Mrs. Wake. Ruthie weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19 inches long. “Ruthie has three proud older brothers, Ian, Ephraim, and Aidan. She smiles constantly and loves to play with her daddy and big brothers. Ruthie was named after me and Marvin’s maternal grandmothers who both passed away three months apart in 2010,” Mrs. Wake explained.

The latest baby to join the Willow Springs School family is Ian Daniel Gutscher. His parents are Mr. DJ Gutsher and his wife Savanna. Ian was born August 22 at 2:26 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was 21 inches long. “Ian is a very happy, healthy baby boy who loves to be held and is constantly making sweet noises. We feel blessed and thankful for everyone who has reached out to us during this exciting time,” said Mr. Gutsher. Grandparents are Gary and Bobette McElyea and Keith and Pam Bunch.