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Last year, the couple's first child, daughter Ashley Mae, was born on Jan. 11. This year, the couple's second child, son Derek Nicholas, was born on Monday, Jan. 7, at 9:30 p.m.

Derek Nicholas weighed seven pounds and nine ounces and was 20 inches long.

The couple was surprised to learn that they might have a chance at the first baby of the year after an ultra sound last summer. Originally, Crystal's due date was Jan. 16, but after the ultra sound her due date was changed to Jan. 1.

Derek arrived a little less than a week late. "But better late than never," said Crystal.

Derek did arrive just in time to celebrate his sister's first birthday on Friday. Ashley is walking and talking now, but still hasn't quite decided about her new baby brother, said her parents last week.

Winning the first baby contest again was not by design, the couple said. But Dan did jokingly lobby to extend what is believed to be a new record for first baby winners. "If we get two in a row," he says with a laugh, "we've got to set the record a little higher."

Don't plan on it. To have another one next year "she told me I'd have to have it," he added in earnest.

Dan was born at the Paynesville Area Hospital himself and grew up on a farm outside of Roscoe. He is a 1992 graduate of Paynesville Area High School. He does crop farming for himself and works on a dairy farm.

Crystal grew up in Sauk Rapids and works for a printing company in Maple Grove.

The family lives in Richmond.

Grandparents are James and Pat Barker of Sauk Rapids and LeRoy and Sandy Ley of Richmond. Great-grandparents are Olga Keckhafer of Fergus Falls and Art and Lucille Ley of Richmond.