Oh, baby! It's twins

Fraternal twins Hunter and Bryce McKenzie already have jobs waiting for them in their dad's electrical contracting business -- just as soon as the two energetic new year's babies born in Brantford General Hospital finish growing up.

"We'll change the name to McKenzie Electric and Sons, eventually, maybe," their proud father Rob, 31, was already planning on Friday afternoon as he cradled Bryce in his arms beside a bed in BGH's maternity ward, where mom Marlene Blais, also 31, was holding little Hunter.

"You can be whatever you want to be," she reassured her charge.

Sitting on a chair to one side, Grandpa Ralph McKenzie, was having fun with the notion that he retired officially on Thursday, the very day the birthing began.

As a retirement bonus, "it was just in time," he joked while taking turns holding the two newest additions to the McKenzie family, in a crowded room with other adoring relatives.

The proud parents went to BGH on Thursday morning, when labour had to be induced because mom was 37 weeks pregnant.

She said she endured 22 hours of "challenging" labour before Hunter Riley was born head-first at five pounds 14 ounces at 5:08 a.m., and Riley, six pounds 11 ounces, was born feet-first five minutes later at 5:13 a.m.

"The doctor just yanked him out," said Blais said of her second son.

When asked how the young parents are going to handle the arrival of twins, Blais said at first "we'll take it one day at a time."

But listening to the banter, it is clear that the two parents have been making careful plans since the day when, at 16 weeks pregnant, Blais was informed she was carrying twins.

Both parents had been raised in Brantford, but have been prepared to make all kinds of changes for their sons. From sleepers to beds, they've already acquired double of everything.

(Edit:Ruby)