“Hey, Big John! You’re an uncle again!”

So said one of my oldest and dearest friends, Gabe, just moments ago on the telephone.

Gabe — easily the most effortlessly hilarious person I’ve ever known — and his infinitely sweet and impossibly lovely wife, Beth, welcomed 8 perfectly healthy pounds and five amazingly beautiful ounces of Lucille Haehlen Becker into the world at 1:11 this morning. (Haehlen is his grandmother’s maiden name.)

Gabe and Beth are two of my all-time favorite people, and they will be wonderful parents.

Much love to all three of you! New house, new baby. We can’t wait to meet Lucy!