Today started great and ended even better. Good coffee, a quick one-and-a-half-hour mountain bike ride to clear the head and really concentrate on the task ahead.

Stacey and I (and partial grandparents) arrived at Seton Medical Center at 11:30. At 1:30 pm they wheeled Stacey in for her epidural, leaving soon-to-be dad with good thoughts as his Sox went up 1-nil on the lowly Cubs. Yeah, I know the outcome, but I don’t even care about that.

At 2:02 pm, Dr. Cowan pulled out Katherine Bing Doyle. She was born at 6lbs, 6oz. 18.5″ long. Healthy breathing, good color and all her toes and fingers. Katherine was Stacey’s grandma (and the middle name of my Mom’s mom). Both ladies were wonderful women (so I hear) and little Katie will be proud to have their name. Bing is short for Bingham, which was Stacey’s maiden name and her (and her grandfather’s) nickname.

At 2:03 pm, Patrick James Doyle was born weighing 6 lbs, 4oz. He was 19″ long, skinny and tall. You can tell these kids apart, that’s for sure. Patrick is my middle name, and James was my Grandpa Heramb. He was a kind and personable man, and you already know that about me. We’ll call him Patrick, Pat, Paddy, PJ and I’m sure a few other things.

Mom is in great shape. Babies are taking to her feeding. I’m so proud of her. It’s even more amazing to me what a woman goes through to give birth.

One pic is below and a ton more can be found if you click here to go to our Flickr account.

Thanks for reading. More to come.