Baby born just short of hospital door

She thought she had plenty of time to get to the hospital, but on the way, the contractions quickened.

"We were about half way to the hospital and I remember telling Bill that I hope we make it," Audrey said.

It took the Partlows about 15 minutes to get to Hagerstown, but traffic lights in the city delayed them.

They were stopped for a red light at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Dual Highway when Audrey's water broke.

"That's when I said, 'Oh no, Bill, hurry up, it's coming,'" Audrey said.

Minutes later, the Partlow's car pulled up outside the hospital's emergency room and Bill ran inside to get help and a wheelchair.

By the time he got back out to the car, the baby had decided she wasn't going to wait, Audrey said.

With several onlookers surrounding the car, "out she came," Audrey said.

"A midwife went down to offer assistance, and by the time she got down there the baby was born," said John Costopoulos, hospital spokesman.

Alexandra Lynn Partlow weighed in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long, Audrey said.

She joins brother, Blake, 3 1/2, and sister, Samantha, 2, at home.

"My husband was on cloud nine last night. He did a good job too," Audrey said.

She and Alexandra went home from the hospital Wednesday evening.