So there we were partying at the Chan Parent's home in Kent with everyone. Real good food with everyone at the house. I (Michael) was making ox tail soup and looking forward to stuffing myself silly. All of a sudden, I look over at Amanda and she's giving me that crazed look. So I had to go over to see what was going on. Those dreaded words...."I'm having contractions"! Dreaded only because it's two weeks early, and I was so looking forward to a nice big bowl of soup! Amanda wanted to hold off for as long as she could, and she made it until after the countdown at midnight (which is another hilarious story in itself). So at 12:10 AM on January 1, 2009, we left the Kent house and headed to the hospital, stopping at the house to pick up some necessary supplies. We got to the hospital and she was dilated to a 4 already, which was a relief because they won't admit you until you are at least a 4. By the time that I had gone back down to park the car and bring up the rest of the bags, Amanda was out of the triage and into a birthing suite. I could tell which one she was in by following the pre-epidural screams. Finally, around 2:00 AM, Amanda got the much asked for epidural. She finally hit the magical number, 10 cm, at around 4:15 or so, and began the final "push" to the promised land. At 4:43 AM, the baby was crowning and the nurse began to call for the OB on duty. "Hurry, the baby is coming!" But it was too late, the little guy came out on his own without any more pushing. 4:46 AM...welcome to the world Baby Chan number 2...all 6 lbs and 20 inches of you!
