Chapter 26

30 minutes later--3:50 p.m.

They had been at the hospital for about 30 minutes, during which the baby had, again, been checked out, and also

weighed and measured--coming out at a very healthy 6 lbs.7 19 1/2 inches long. Andrew was now sitting on

the side of Margaret's bed, with an arm wrapped around her, and they were both looking down in awe at their new

daughter laying in Margaret's arms.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Margaret asked.

"She really is--just like you" Andrew replied.

The both smiled down at Grace, and then looked up and smiled at each other.

"I love you, Mommy" he said, leaning down and kissing her.

"I love you too, Daddy" she responded. returning the kiss.

"Well, as much as I hate to leave my two favorite girls, I really should go call Mom, and let them know what's happened.

I'll be back in a few minutes." he said. giving both Margaret and Grace a little kiss before walking out of the room.

"They've probably been home for at least an hour already" Andrew thought, as he dialed his mom's cell phone number.

It rang twice before being picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mom"

"Andrew, where are you guys? We got back an hour ago, and you guys weren't here."

"Well, something happened--something pretty big, actually. But don't worry--it's nothing bad."

"What is it?" Grace asked.

"I would tell you now, but I want you all to be surprised. Just bring Dad, Gammy, and Joshua over to the hospital, and head

up to room 215. Just walk in there, and you'll see."

"All right, if that's how we'll find out, then we'll be right over. See you soon. Love you."

"Okay, love you, too."

After hanging up, Andrew walked back into the room.

"I told Mom that something big had happened, I didn't tell her , or that this was where I was calling from. I just told her to bring

everybody here, and that then they would find out.."

"Oh, that was a very good idea, honey" Margaret replied. "They are definitely not going to believe this."

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About 4:20 p.m.

Andrew was, by this time, standing up next to the bed, holding his daughter carefully in his arms. He looked down at her and

smiled. He still couldn't believe that he had been the one to actually bring her into the world.

He had just barely looke back up, when they heard a knock at the door. "Come in" he said.

Joe, followed by Grace--who was holding Joshua, and Gammy all walked in---to a sight that practically took their breath away.

Their son/grandson was standing there, just a few steps away from them, and he was holding the baby.

"Hey mom, hey dad, hey Gammy, hey Josh" Andrew said, quietly.

"Is that...is that her?" Grace asked.

"Yes, it is" he said. "Mom, Dad, Gammy--we'd like you all to meet your new granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Grace

Elizabeth Paxton--"Gracie" for short."

Everybody's eyes started to well up, espiecially Grace's. "You named her after me?" she asked.

"Yeah, we did. The middle name is after me, but as for the first name, we both decided that we wanted to name her after the woman

who did such a wonderful job raising her wonderful father" Margaret replied, smiling up at Andrew.

"Well, thank you so much, you two. I'm really very honored." Grace said, giving each of them a hug, being mindful of the baby the

whole time.

"All-right then--now that everyone else has been properly introduced to the baby, I think it the big brother's turn." Andrew said, turning

his attention to Joshua--now 23 months old, who was now standing over with the rest of the family.

"Hey buddy," he said, we have someone we'd like you to meet, okay?"

Joshua nodded. Andrew then walked over, picked him up, and placed him on the bed next

to Margaret.

"Hey Josh, this is your new little sister, Grace." she said, helping him to hold her.

It truly was an amazing sight for everyone to see, and Andrew and Margaret couldn't help but smile proudly

as they watched their oldest child holding their youngest..

After a few minutes, Andrew leaned over and carefully took the baby out of Joshua's arms, and placed her

comfortably back in his own.

"All-right, now that the big brother has gotten to hold her, who wants to be next?" he asked, now facing the

rest of his family. He then turned to his mom.

"Mom, seeing as you were the inspiration behind our daughter's name, would you like to hold her next?"

Grace nodded her head slowly. Andrew then gently placed the baby in her arms. She looked down at her, and tears

started to come to her eyes again.

"She's absolutely beautiful--she looks just like you." she said to Margaret. Margaret couldn't help but smile upon

hearing that.

"Okay, Gracie--let's go see grandpa now" she said, turning to Joe. He carefully took her in his arms, and couldn't

help but smile. "She's just gorgeous--isn't she, Mom?" he asked, turning around, and placing her into Annie's waiting

arms.

Annie looked down and smiled at her new (and first) great-granddaughter--"Yes, she really is--she's just adorable"

she replied, gently handing her back to Andrew, who then carefully handed her back to Margaret.

"So, any word from the doctor about when you'll be able to take her home?" Grace asked.

"Actually, the doctor was in here just a few minutes before you guys got here. She checked her out, and everything was

fine. Based on that, she said that we should be able to take her home around 10:00 tomorrow morning." Andrew replied.

"That's great."

Everybody then talked for about 30 more minutes, before deciding to go back to the apartment, and let the new family have

some more time to themselves.

After they had all gone, Andrew went over and laid down on the bed, with Joshua getting on his lap, and, of course, with

Margaret in the bed holding onto little Gracie. The proud parents then looked at each other adoringly and leaned in for a

kiss, before looking down and smiling. This was their family,and at that very moment, they both realized just how lucky

they really were.