It’s been nine months since AARP and Blue Zones first announced Albert Lea as the city they would seek to add years to its residents’ lives through what’s come to be called the Vitality Project.

During the past nine months Albert Lea officials have come to know Joel Spoonheim as a key organizer in the project and to know that his wife was expecting a child — making work and home life doubly hectic. Last Thursday, he risked missing the big moment just to be in Albert Lea for a Vitality Project event.

At 7:21 a.m. Sunday, Naia Jean Willis Spoonheim was born to parents Joel and Lani Spoonheim. She was 19.5 inches long and weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces.

Naia means “full of hope” in various Eastern European language and “dolphin” in Hawaiian. Jean comes from the mother’s side of the family.

The proud daddy is the health initiative director for the Minneapolis-based Blue Zones organization.