It’s been a busy couple of months for Albert Lea City Councilor Reid Olson and his wife, Sarah.

A little over a month ago, the young couple became parents for the third time.

Their new daughter, Maggie, joins brothers, Alex, 4, and Michael, 2, who are two bundles of energy.

The addition made an already busy family even busier.

The day Maggie was born, Sarah had a doctor’s appointment at 3:30 p.m. At the appointment, she was already dilated to 5 centimeters, so she got sent over to the hospital, she said. Maggie was born two hours later.

Reid said he got a call at work that they were going to have the baby in a bit, but that it wouldn’t be in a hurry. He got cleaned up and got to the hospital just in time for Maggie’s birth.

He had been on call the weeks prior during all council meetings in case Sarah went into labor. The couple was happy when the day of Maggie’s birth finally arrived.

Though the two boys look a lot like their father, Maggie looks more like Sarah’s mother, the couple said. She has dark-colored hair — and lots of it.

The birth came about a month before Reid and Sarah’s fifth wedding anniversary.

The couple met at the softball fields in Hayward and struck up a friendship there. After Sarah transferred to the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, where Reid was also attending, he called her up to see how things were going.

Ages: Reid, 33, Sarah, 26

Address:

1110 Richway Drive, Albert Lea

Livelihood:

Reid is a siding installer through Home Solutions in Albert Lea; Sarah works part time at the Albert Lea Family Y.

Family: sons Alex, 4, and Michael, 2, and daughter, Maggie, about 1 month

Interesting fact: Reid has lived on Richway Drive for 28 years.

After that, the friendship developed into something more serious.

They were married July 11, 2003.

In November of 2006, Reid was elected to the Albert Lea City Council as the youngest councilor.

As Maggie snuggled up with her mother and the two boys ran around the room playing with Buzz Lightyear toys, Reid and Sarah described what life has been like since Reid joined the council.

“At times it’s a little intimidating — a lot of other people have more experience with the city government,” he said. “But I have a fresh perspective dealing with certain developers and members of the community.”

On top of the 5 to 10 hours a week of council time, Reid usually works 45 to 50 hours a week at his job.

Sometimes he’s away from home 14 to 15 hours a day and the kids are already in bed when he gets home, but that’s not usually the case, Sarah said. The boys like to stay up late.

Though having Reid on the council has made life for the Olson family a little more stressful, Sarah said her husband loves being on the council — and he loves Albert Lea.

“I’m amazed about how much goes on in this town,” he said. “If people are complaining about there’s nothing to do in this town, they’re just not looking hard enough.”

The couple has gotten to meet many new people by being on the council and has gotten to see all of the behind-the-scenes works.

“I’ve really learned that there’s a lot that goes on around town that we never would have known actually happened,” Sarah said. “We enjoy going to different activities and events.”

The couple said the family enjoys driving out to Myre-Big Island State Park and looking for deer with the boys. Alex and Michael love to count the deer and hope to someday reach 100.

They also have fun going to the parks on the weekends, going swimming at the Y and spending time with grandparents, as well as attending high school sporting events.

Reid will enjoy another two years on the council before his term expires. Closer to the date, he will decide whether to seek re-election.