Last May, two couples who are not only friends of ours, but friends of each other, both announced that they were having babies.   These babies would both be third children for each of the mothers, and both were complete surprises.  Due date for one was just before Christmas, while the other was a couple of weeks later.  The mothers joked about trying to time it so that they could be in the hospital at the same time, but we all know those plans never work out, especially over six months out.

Mischa went in on the 23rd to have labor induced–she’s had a rocky last month, and it was time.  However, like their second baby, the new one didn’t want to come into the world, and after twenty-two hours of hard labor, she agreed to a C-section.  Elliot Cooper entered the world just after 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve, joining his two big sisters, Kieran and Claire.

What we didn’t know at the time was that Sarah, from the other couple, *also* went into labor on the 23rd, and two rooms down from Mischa gave birth to a boy, and hour and a half earlier, when Malcolm joined the world and said hello to big brother Aidan and big sister Lucy.

Two good friends, two rooms apart in a largish city (60k-100k), giving birth less than two hours apart.

And *neither* couple knew the other couple was two rooms away until after both boys were born!

What a beautiful day!  I suspect Elliot and Malcolm will be friends for life!

And, for more backstory, it’s been a very tough year for both couples.  Businesses failing in the current economy, the death of a dear mother, job changes, moving, and much heartbreak.  However, in the face of a newborn, all is smiles, all is fresh.

All starts anew.

Life is stranger than fiction, at times, and all I know is that I got to hold brand new fresh babies today and ain’t much in the world can be wrong when that happens.  🙂

Welcome to the world, Malcolm and Elliot.  Find the joy, make your beauty.