A New Generation

Break out the suspenders and red plaid shirts.  I'm a grandpa. Jessica just gave birth to a baby...something.  It's 2:00 am.  KaReen and I are sitting in a hotel room in Beaver, UT. Brandon's last text told us that Jessica was almost done pushing, so we are waiting to find out if it is a Calvin or an Amya. Jessica and Brandon decided not to find out what sex the baby was.  They prefer to be surprised.

Jessica was due on (or rather the baby was due on) February 13. Someone forgot to tell the baby.  Eight days later, Jessica still had to be induced. I guess if I had to go through labor (heaven forbid) I wouldn't be in a hurry either. Maybe the baby just likes twos.  02/21/2012  2:00 am.

This just in (2:12 am): it's a girl!  Happy Birthday Amya Clair Butcher! This rounds out nicely being a grandpa because NaTasha is due tomorrow, and we already know it is going to be a boy.  Double-grandpa within a couple of days.  In for a penny and all that. We're waiting to hear (er...receive text) on height/weight. Should be a good size, having been basted an extra week in the oven.  We imagine Brandon is busy cutting the cord and watching Apgar tests etc. Jessica is no doubt busy not feeling like she's being turned inside out. Soon, she will feel that common hatred of nurses who like to squeeze recently empty wombs back toward their normal size.

Having been there for the birth of all six of my kids, it feels strange not to be there in person, but this is Brandon's moment.  We'll be looking forward to returning home and meeting Amya after a few days of conference-going in Nevada.

OK, here are the stats:
Height: 20"
Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz