Special delivery

8-pound, 3-ounce boy born to Eagle River couple

January 3, 2006

DAWN DE BUSK\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - While Valley residents busied themselves igniting fireworks, discharging firearms, exchanging kisses, toasting glasses of champagne and engaging in other New Year's Eve traditions, an extended family was waiting at Valley Hospital for the first glimpse of Tanner Bruce-Allen Long, who came into the world seven minutes after midnight on the first day of 2006.

Twenty-seven-year-old mom Kristie Long was in labor for about 20 hours when physicians decided to perform a Caesarean section at around 11 p.m., Long said.

Mom was exhausted after the 8-pound, 3-ounce boy was delivered.

&#8220I said, ‘Oh, he's so handsome.' Then I fell asleep. I didn't even get to hold him right away,” she said.

Not only is Tanner the first baby born at Valley Hospital in 2006, he's also the first boy among three female grandchildren.

Grandpa Greg Shanley, of Anchorage, is thrilled about his new grandson. He said he was talking with Tanner's dad, Forrest Long, and found out Forrest was also a first grandson in his family. Shanley said his own birth brought his grandparents their first male grandchild.

It's a nice coincidence, he said as he watched grandmother Donna, Kristie's stepmother, cuddle the new addition to the family.

&#8220We had plans for New Year's Eve, but we canceled. This is a better plan, actually,” Shanley said.

Long was surprised when she went into labor around 1 a.m. Dec. 31 because she had had a doctor's appointment the day before and was told the birth wouldn't take place for awhile. Her due date was Jan. 17.

Kristie Long and her husband, Forrest, used to live in the Valley but now reside in Eagle River. Their first child, 2-year-old Sierra, was also born at Valley Hospital.

&#8220[Sierra] walked in and said, ‘That's my baby brother. Can I take him home?' She's very interested in everything I'm doing with the baby today, whether I'm breastfeeding or changing diapers,” Long said.

How does Tanner feel about this milestone?

&#8220He's a talker. He just wants to make noises like coos and little squeals,” Long said.

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252 or dawn.debusk@frontiersman.