Welcome, Baby Andrew!

After 4 1/2 hours or so of labor, Steve and Carleen welcomed 7 lb. Andrew Russell into the world at 12:45 a.m. October 31.
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The Big Sister, Emma, had to go stay with Grandma and Grandpa during all the action, she was not too happy about missing out.
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It was a very difficult labor for my brother Steve. The first one was so much easier. This one wiped him out.
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I was hosting our pumpkin carving contest and bonfire during labor & delivery, so by the time I arrived, the family was in attendance and baby Drew had already donned his pumpkin party hat.
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Cousin David was noticably absent, but my brother-in-law stood in for him as "Blog Stalker." It's kind of a "Where's Waldo" moment in my blogposts that long time readers have come to anticipate.
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The room was bustling with activity. Phone calls, FB status updates, tweets to be twittered, Flikr updates....
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They hardly noticed me sneak in and grab the little tyke. Here I am saying, "Get a shot of me holding little Moose." The Moose part? Yeah, that got me some attention. I think it also got some hairs standing on end in some parts of the room. If it was a cartoon, this is where the happy skippy music would have stopped.
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The family lunch afterwards was a little wild. The girls were keyed up after being quiet in the hospital lobby for so long. Due to swine flu, children under 18 are not allowed to make hospital visits, they have to remain in the lobby.

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So the girls were very excited to get to Papa's and view pictures of baby Andrew.

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They spent the afternoon playing and came up with their own gang sign, which Alexa here is demonstrating well.

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... And of course.... Cousin David made an appearance...