ONE LAST WHIRL

Then Comes Baby in the Baby Carriage

Pittsburgh’s First Son, Cooper Luke Ravenstahl, makes his big debut,
warmly held in the hands of his loving parents.

By Kristine Sorensen | Photography by Megan Wylie

Captured here in pictures and in words is KDKA-TV news anchor Kristine Sorensen’s vision for celebrating this momentous birth — according to KDKA-TV and Shawn Flaherty, Cooper is the first baby to have been born to a sitting Pittsburgh mayor since Mayor Pete Flaherty’s term when his son, Gregory James, was born in 1969. In this heartfelt essay, Sorensen tells of her time with these first-time parents. Together, we happily announce the arrival Pittsburgh’s newest family member.

I know of no greater joy than the pure love of my own babies. 

So when I learned that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and his wife, Erin, were expecting their own baby, I was thrilled that they, too, would experience this blessing. On October 31, 2008, Cooper Luke Ravenstahl was born and became Pittsburgh’s “First Baby.”

I am honored that Luke and Erin gave me the opportunity to spend time with them in their home, just six days after Cooper was born, for this exclusive interview and photo shoot with KDKA-TV and WHIRL Magazine.

Many national celebrities command big fees to photograph their newborns and then donate that money to charity. In that spirit, I raised money for the March of Dimes through an auction of a behind-the-scenes tour of KDKA-TV.

At age 28, Ravenstahl is the youngest of all mayors of major American cities, and it is not often that a big city mayor is raising a baby while in office. It is not an easy proposition, given the demands of a newborn and the demands of running a big city. But Luke and Erin told me they are ready for the challenge, with the help and support of their extended family. “Little Cooper’s arrival was certainly the most exciting day of my life and probably will be the most exciting day, no matter what is in my future,” says Mayor Ravenstahl.

I hope people all across the Pittsburgh region will celebrate with the Ravenstahls as they begin their new lives as parents and come to know what pure love really is. “I’ve learned that my time is now very, very precious,” says Mayor Ravenstahl. “Of course, it was very precious to begin with, and I think the priorities have probably changed for me. I have a great opportunity and a wonderful job, but this little guy now is going to come first.”

Read on to check out KDKA-TV news anchor Kristine Sorensen’s complete interview with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and his wife, Erin.


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