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Show 'v x ' r., 0 V - . ' ; - . x - ... -y , ' , ' ' Edna Tittensor, Volunteer Auxiliary member, shows off the tiny daughter of Tawni Berry all dressed up in Christmas wrap at the American Fork Hospital. Babies born in December go home in red flannel stockings. Babies go home in Christmas stockings Babies born at the American Fork Hospital during December are going home in Christmas wrap, provided courtesy of members of the hospital's Volunteer Auxiliary. LaRae Greenwood, volunteer coordinator, said babies born beginning Dec. 1 get an extra covering in the form of a bright red Christmas stocking. Edna Tittersor, a member of the Auxiliary, has made 80 of the red flannel stockings to date and expects to make about 20 more before the season is out. Each of the stockings has a contrast con-trast colored top and a crocheted tie. Mrs. Greenwood said about 100 babies are expected at the hospital during the month. "It's a tradition with the hospital," Mrs. Greenwood said, noting it was about 20 years ago ! when the first baby was sent home in j the colorful stocking wrapping. I The custom began under the ! direction of Betty McTague, then Pink Ladies coordinator, with American Fork Hospital believed to be the first in the state with the stockings. Other hospitals in the state followed shortly after. For several years, stockings were only given out for about 10 days -from just before Christmas until New Years Eve - but the tradition became so popular with the new mothers that it was decided to extend ex-tend the gift wrapping to the entire month. At first, several Pink Ladies (the forerunner of the present Volunteer Auxiliary), took the material home to make up the stockings. Then several years ago, one person began making them all. This year it was Mrs. Tittensor. She said she started cutting the material sometime in July and August, doing a few as she had time. Her sewing excelerated as December neared, however. Why did she do it? "I just enjoy doing this kind of study. Everybody is so excited and it's fun," she said. Some second generation babies are now enjoying the warm wrap, it was noted -- and many young people have said they use the gigantic stocking to hang up on Christmas Eve. They haven't said, however, if Santa manages to fill it to the top. |