By Kathy Chaffin

Salisbury Post

The 2007 New Year’s baby at Rowan Regional Medical Center came into the world quietly.

“He wouldn’t cry when he came out,” said his 21-year-old mother, Gina Guidry. “They tried their best and he wouldn’t cry. He went ‘Eh,’ and that’s it.”

Almost 28 hours later, Bryson Anthony Guidry still hadn’t cried. He frowned and squinted his eyes when the Post photographer took several pictures of him, but he didn’t cry.

“He’s waiting until he gets home,” joked his father, Michael Guidry.

Bryson’s going to be a country boy, his parents said. “Not a redneck boy,” Gina clarified, “a country boy.”

Michael, also 21, said his son will carry on his heritage. “I was born and raised in the country,” he said, “and I’ve been a John Deere fan since I was little.”

The couple decorated the nursery of their home on Bear Poplar Road in Cleveland around a John Deere theme. A John Deere border matches the yellow walls and green carpet, Gina said.

Bryson was due today, and his mother walked in the yard and worked in the house just prior to her 15 hours of labor. Michael took Gina to the hospital at about midnight, when most Rowan Countians were bidding farewell to 2006 and welcoming the new year.

He was born at 10:02 a.m. and weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. Dr. Mike Mills and Dr. Lynn Pitson of Salisbury OB/GYN assisted in the delivery.

The Guidrys were presented two large gift baskets for having the first baby of the new year, one from Smart Start Rowan and the other from Babies “R” Us. They’ve also received lots of attention along with their newborn son.

“I’ve got me a ‘Celebrity Baby,’ ” Gina said. “That’s what I’ve been calling him.”

Bryson’s paternal grandparents, Lena and Ray Champagne, were visiting him Tuesday along with his 5-year-old aunt, Chansey, and 2-year-old uncle, R.J.

Chansey was present for the delivery along with her mother and Gina’s grandmother, Alma Morgan.

Gina said Chansey took it all in. “She was sitting in the corner in a chair by herself watching everything,” she said. “When he came out, I glanced over, and she was jumping up and down in the chair.”

“She was so excited he was here.”

Bryson is named after his father, Michael Anthony Guidry, his grandfather, Ray Anthony Champagne, and his great-grandfather, Antione (which is French for Anthony) Champagne.

Gina said Bryson is part Cajun and part Cherokee. Michael’s family hails from Louisiana, and she has Cherokee blood in her heritage.

The Guidrys, who have been married since Nov. 20, 2004, hope to have another baby about the time Bryson is out of diapers. “Hopefully, a little girl,” Gina said.

The Champagnes, who live just five minutes from their new grandson, said they’re looking forward to being grandparents even though they have two small children. “I thought Michael was going to be the only one for a while,” Lena said.

“Chansey was a surprise,” she said. “Ray went to Iraq for a year, and as soon as he got back, I got pregnant with R.J.”

Ray said he’s looking forward to “spoiling Bryson rotten” and sending him home when he won’t listen. “Typical grandparent stuff,” he said.

Lena said their two small children will grow up with Bryson. “When R.J. starts school, two years later, Bryson will be starting,” she said.

Bryson and his aunt and uncle will attend Cleveland Elementary School.

Michael said, “They’ll all three be getting muddy together.”

The couple met at West Rowan High School. Even before they started dating, Lena said she had a feeling they would make a good couple after meeting Gina at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts at Salisbury Mall.

“She was a cashier there,” she said. “I don’t know, something just clicked.”

Gina graduated from West in 2003, and Michael graduated in 2004. They work together at Shaver Wood Products in Cleveland.

Having lost their first child to a miscarriage in their first year of marriage, Gina said Bryson is even more of a blessing to them.

She said he’ll have two wonderful guardian angels in her mother, Jean McDaniel, who died in 2005, and his paternal great-grandmother, Mary Jane Guidry, who died in 2002.

Gina’s father, Lee Mitchell, lives in Florida. When she called to tell him about the baby, she said he didn’t understand at first.

“Bryson’s here,” she said she told him. “OK,” she said he responded, followed by “What?!”

Bryson will get to meet his grandfather Mitchell in February, Gina said.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin@salisburypost.com.