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Happy New Year Brandon By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland's newest inhabitant sleeps a lot, has a good grip and is already a lifelong resident - a claim fewer and fewer Ashlanders can make. Brandon Hunter Sands was born at 3:19 a.m. today to Jay and Amanda Sands at Ashland Community Hospital - the first New Year's baby in town. The tossle-headed child was sleeping this morning, but mother Amanda, 24, and father Jay, 29, were bright-eyed and happy. "I couldn't really sleep, I'm so excited to take him home to see his brother," Amanda said this morning, cradling Brandon in her arms. The Sands' first child, Alexander, is four years old, and waiting at home to welcome his new sibling. Ashland-based family practice doctor Jani Rollins delivered Brandon, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19 and three-quarters inches long at birth. Amanda's second labor experience went fairly smoothly. "My water broke at 11:45 and he was born at 3:19," she said. "It was really easy." Jay, a carpet installer and musician, was also present at the birth, supporting the mother of his child and video-taping the event for posterity. "He did great," Amanda said. "He didn't pass out or anything." Jay, somewhat speechless after the experience, managed to convey his mood with a huge, relieved smile and a simple, "I'm really, really happy. I don't know how else to say it." The declaration was punctuated with a tender kiss between mom and dad, while little Brandon rested quietly between the two. Jay and Amanda moved to Ashland a little more than a year ago. Amanda worked for a while as a pharmacy technician, but plans to stay home for a while to raise her family. "I don't see myself going back to work any time soon," she said. Jay said he plans to get back on the job as a carpet installer soon to help support his family. The two young parents have simple hopes for their new son so far. "I would like it if daddy could share his musical talent with Brandon, and for my part, I'd like to share my love of books and poetry," Amanda said. Both Jay and Amanda look forward to the joys of parenting. "It's fantastic when they run up to you and Say 'I love you, mommy,'" Amanda said. As the first Ashland baby of the new year, Brandon was showered with gifts. This morning the growing family was given a gift basket filled with useful presents and gift certificates from local businesses including Small Change Children's Store, Tree House Books, Ashland Rexall, Bloomsbury Books, Country Linen Diaper Service, Safeway, Albertsons, Kathy Hollis Cooper Photography and the Ashland Community Hospital Auxiliary. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -