It's a girl! (But we've known that for a long time)

The phone call came shortly after 10 a.m. our time this morning. We were waiting on it...not to know "what is it?", but "when?", "how big?", "how long?" Modern medicine has taken nearly all the surprise out of childbirth...a couple has to really make a determined effort NOT to know if it's a boy or a girl. So we knew Rachel and Chris's fourth child is a girl, and we knew it was very close to the due date.

Our eighth grandchild, who shall remain unnamed in this report, but identified only as "Br------ Brown" (her older siblings are Brody, Brennan, and Briony, so I think it's safe to call her "Br-----"), arrived shortly after midnight Mountain Daylight Time (Colorado) or shortly after 7 a.m. here. Rachel, who is completing some courses to get her full teacher's certificate, HAD to be in class last night to give her final presentation. She asked the professor if she could be the first one, and she gave her presentation, with labor pains at 5-minute intervals. Then straight from class to hospital, and 12:09 a.m., little Br----- was delivered by C-section. For the benefit of the women readers, who seem to find the information especially important, she weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and measured 20" in length. (Notice how babies, because they don't seem to be able to stand at this point, are measured for length, not height?)

Rachel herself called about 3 hours after the delivery. Chris, the father, was reported to be fine, and resting comfortably. (Fast asleep, actually.) Rachel is fine and looking forward to a fast recovery: she has to be back in class next Friday and Saturday. She'll be taking the baby with her, who by that time is expected to have a name. Your prayers for all are appreciated, of course.