Baby Nathaniel knows how to make an entrance.

The 6-pound, 13-ounce baby boy was born at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville last Friday at 11:11 a.m.

That’s right, his birthdate is 11/11/11 at 11:11 a.m.

“That is kind of freaky,” acknowledged dad Byran, an aviation structural mechanic at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. “We joked about it, telling him to hold off, but we didn’t expect it to happen.” (The family has asked not to have their last name published.)

Byran, who has been on deployment for the past six months, got home Thursday afternoon. Less than 12 hours later, he and his wife, Chia, went to the hospital for the birth of their second child.

Big sister, Sophia, is 2-and-a-half.

Chia said the last six months have been hard.

“It was very emotional, wondering if he was going to be home in time,” she said. “And just the emotional adjustment of having him home. There wasn’t much time together as a family (before the baby was born).”

Chia and Byran say they’re looking forward to spending time together now that baby and daddy are here safely. That, and sharing the story of Nathaniel’s timely entrance.

“I guess he’ll have something to talk about for the rest of his life,” said Byran.