Welcome, Karen Marie

Big brother Holden Brewer, along with his parents (Rachel and Jim), are thrilled to introduce sweet little Karen Marie Brewer. She was born at 4:27 p.m. Sunday, weighing in at 7 lb., 5 oz., and measuring 19.5 inches long with a full head of wavy dark hair.




The QUOTE list after baby Karen's highly anticipated, overdue arrival:

"She is such a blessing," said the overjoyed mom, an endurance athlete who pushed for about an hour. "I was pretty emotional when she arrived."

"It's a GIRL! Her name is Karen Marie. She is a cutie," said proud papa (who kept us all in suspense WAY TOO LONG! - "Any guesses on name or gender? ;-) " he teased.)

"My mom and dad are smiling in heaven," said delighted Uncle Moo, who along with wife Amy has girl No. 2 on the way to join 2-year-old Lola. (WHOOOO WHOOOO!)

"She is beautiful. Now you have two beautiful girls to take care of," loving Grandma D (Darlene) said to her son, Jim, via text message.

Papa Jim on Holden immediately loving his baby sister: "He sure does and can even say her name."

Papa Jim on his lovely wife: "Rachel was amazing."

Grandpa Mike (paraphrased by Rach): "I knew all along the baby was a girl. It also explained why she took her time to come out into the world."

Mama Rachel on being a family of 4: "Holden is adjusting well so far to a baby sister!"

"So beautiful," said Auntie Teddy Rieke of the Wood Shop/Hat Shop.

"My sister Rachel doing great!" Uncle Kevin announced on Facebook as the congrats and thumbs-up for her name began to pour in. Everybody loves the special tribute to "Grandma Bagel!"

"She is a cutie," said longtime friend and neighbor, Anne Smith, who ate with Mrs. Brewer at Elro's Pizza nearly every Sunday.

"Aw, Karen, I love it!! A huge congrats cuz!!!" said cousin Kathy Schramm Falk.

"What an angel!" said lifelong friend Megan Nelson of Children's Hospital, Seattle. "Look at all that hair, and love her name. Congrats Rach, Jim and Holden!!"

"She broke the streak!!!! Cutie too!" said distinguished pharmacist Mary Juchem of Team Juchem in Denver. "She looks like an angel," Juchem added.

"Awesome!" said dear friend and PHD Nicole Maninger.

"What a beautiful baby!" said Holly Roberts of the U.S. Army and mother of two boys.

"Oh, how wonderful," said Connie McCauley, who reportedly helped Uncle Moo quit the binky.

"How perfectly awesome," said Jan Saunders, mother of former Cascade hoops star Jennifer Saunders.

"Yippee! What fantastic news. And the name Karen ... so precious," said Dani Watson, a WA resident again at last!

"Thanks so much for sharing!!!" said librarian Katy Ackerson, mom of Elsa, Bellingham. (And wife of Joe with the coolest T-shirts ever)

"She is so beautiful," said Petra Slapnicka McCauley, physical therapist and mother of 1-year-old Elise in Wenatchee.

"Sweet," said Karen Conger, cousin of Janie and Evan who loves the name!

(By guest blogger Janie, who is emotional and happy beyond belief - XO!)

(Editor's note: When Mrs. Juchem of Team Juchem in Denver refers to "breaking the streak" she is speaking of the Brewers having a boy and a girl since none in the group have done this so far - Dani 3 boys, Holly 2 boys, Mary 2 girls, Megan 2 girls, Janie 2 girls, Katy 1 girl, Jenny B. 1 girl).