Lord knows I have written about enough death and destruction over the years, so I am happy to announce the (earlier-than-expected) birth of Stephen John Sutherland II.

Steve #2 was born June 7, six weeks premature, in Anchorage, Alaska.

His mom, Maria, was there on business when Steve #2 demanded to be born by Caesarian section. The family lives 600 miles away in Fairbanks.

His dad, Army Stryker Brigade Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Sutherland, was killed in Iraq in November 2005.

Yep, 21 months ago.

Steve #2 weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces. He’s already out of the ICU and in the regular nursery. His mother, Maria, is still under the weather with a stubborn infection.

This news is courtesy of Steve #2’s grandmother, Pat Sutherland, who lives with husband, Bill, in Westville.

Pat, as you may well imagine, is beside herself with joy and, well, what would you call it? Grandmaternalism?

Steve #1 grew up in Pitman, Mantua and West Deptford. He graduated from Clearview in 1992. He and Maria were married in 2000. He adopted her two boys, Omar and Victor. Things were good.

When he went off to Iraq, knowing he and Maria wanted to make a baby of their own, Steve #1 had some of his sperm placed in a Seattle, Wash., sperm bank.

Source: NJ.com