A Christmas Baby Story

The Pankratz family from Malta received a special Christmas present with the birth of Augustus Sage Pankratz, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, on Tuesday, Dec. 25, at 10:15 p.m. Augustus' birth was to the surprise of his parents, Dustin and Megan Pankratz, and brother, Wylie, however oldest brother Cooper was more proud of the fact of being right as he had been telling his family for awhile there would be a new addition to the family on Christmas day.

Augustus was not due to make his appearance until Dec. 27, but Cooper just knew his little brother could not wait to meet the rest of the family. "Cooper kept saying baby would come on Christmas Day, and we had to remind him that babies come when they are ready. Cooper just kept on telling us that baby was going to come on Christmas. Now I don't know why we kept arguing with him!," laughed Megan.

Augustus certainly kept his family on their toes that day as Megan and Dustin had to wake Cooper and Wylie up at 5 a.m., in order to allow them the opportunity to open presents and also make it to the hospital. "The boys had to pick one present each to bring into the pickup and open up on the way!," said Megan. After getting admitted to the hospital, Augustus decided he wasn't quite ready and the family went back home around 1 p.m., to enjoy a few hours of Christmas bliss. In the evening though, Augustus decided to prove Cooper right, and the family made their trek back to the hospital where Augustus was born at 10:15 p.m., weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.

Everyone is adjusting to being a new family of five, though Wylie sometimes isn't so sure of having a younger brother. "Most of the time he loves his little brother, but he has his moments where he will ask us to bring Augustus back. Cooper on the other hand loves helping." said Megan.

Proud maternal grandparents are Steve and Gwyn Funk and Craig and Veronda Biggart, proud maternal great-grandparents are Don and Margaret Potter and proud paternal grandparents are Wes and Jodie Pankratz.