Baby gives new meaning to Mother's Day

Courtney Baker holds her newborn son, Elias Baker, at Dr. Larry Seals' office at Mercy Physician Group Thursday. Having her own child has given new meaning to Mother's Day for her.

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Mother's Day now has new meaning for Courtney Baker.

At 23, she's a first-time mom of son Elias Baker, born April 26. Baker and her husband, Blake, live in Nevada, Mo., and she had the baby at Mercy Health Center with Dr. Amy Sachau providing prenatal care and Dr. Larry Seals delivering.

"It's really neat because we get to celebrate now," said Baker, a first-grade teacher at Bryan Elementary. She added she thinks having her own child has given her new perspective on the day and made it extra special. It doesn't mean she won't be saluting her own family.

"We're going to have family over and have a dinner and everything," Baker said.

Maternal grandparents are Kenny and Janyce Hinkle and paternal grandparents are Dennis and Sherry Baker, all of Nevada. Courtney's husband works at Hartlzer Equipment Co. in Nevada selling equipment for tractors and other farm implements.

The two met through FFA in high school and have been together for eight years. They got married two years ago. Baker went to Fort Scott Community College for a year, then transferred to Pittsburg State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education.

"I like being around kids. You deal with everybody else's kids all day and then you're fortunate to have your own," Baker said, adding all of her students are "very excited" about her having Elias.

She has nothing but good things to say about Dr. Seals.

"I really like Dr. Seals. I'd recommend him to everyone. He has done a great job in helping us get him (Elias) here. He made us feel comfortable and relaxed the whole time. He's a very nice man," Baker said.

Seals returned the compliment and added Mother's Day is always special to him.

He has been a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist for 17 years, nearly six of which have been in Fort Scott. Prior to that, he was in St. Louis. Since he's been here, he has brought approximately 1,200 babies into the world.

"I celebrate all mothers," he said.

He added he's planning to celebrate the occasion with his wife, Tracey. The couple has two children, 6-year-old Christian and 24-year-old Carley.

"I plan to take my wife out to dinner," Seals said.