Bean has arrived!

Here are the vitals: 8 lbs 9 oz, 20.5 inches long, and a -- boy. Mommy and baby are doing well. No name yet- that will follow soon. We had to meet him first!

Alana poked me about midnight and said she was feeling labor pains and stronger contractions had begun. We got up about 1 a.m. and got things ready to roll to the hospital when the time came. We called the midwife and had everything ready by about 3 a.m. and both tried to rest a little until labor progressed. (Let's be clear-- I laid down and fell asleep for a little over an hour, Alana was busy having contractions)

At about 4:30 things kicked in a bit more. Mark, our neighbor came over for a short time until Suzanne and Kirk (Alana's mum and da) could make it to the house to stay with Grae. Alana was feeling some strong contractions and really wanted to be enroute-- so we took off. The trip to North Memorial is a bit longer than the trip to Fairview where Grae was born, but the heated seats are a HUGE hit with the 'labor' party.

Once at the hospital, things progressed very smoothly. We made it into a room by about 5:45-6 a.m. With Grae, things stalled out mid morning-- not so this time. That baby was a comin'. He was here by 9:10 after 33 minutes of pushing. Alana said it was more pain than the first time around, but the labor was MUCH shorter.

Grae will be coming to visit her new little brother this afternoon. Baby and Momma are both asleep, and I will publish some more after a brief nap....zzz...