New Year brings Shropshire little bundles of joy
The New Year celebrations were still in full swing when Ellie-Mae Jones made her entrance into the world to become the first 2013 baby born in Shropshire.
Ellie-Mae was born at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford at 3.45am yesterday, weighing 7lbs 11oz. Proud parents Gemma and Tim Jones, who live in Hadley, Telford, said they were delighted to start the new year with a new baby.
Mrs Jones, a 26-year-old part-time accounts assistant, said: "It makes it just that little bit more special."
The Jones' have made a habit of winter babies as their three-year-old boy Ethan was born on December 1.
The next county arrival was Amelia May Langford, who was born at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital at 4.40am, weighing 7lbs 1oz.
Parents Karen and Tom Langford, from Muxton, had only just returned home from a New Year's Eve party with family when Mrs Langford's waters broke.
Mrs Langford, aged 36, said: "We were seeing in the New Year at my mum and dad's and had been dropped back at 1am.
"By 3am my waters had broken and I had her at 4.40am. She didn't want to hang around."
Mrs Langford has two daughters aged nine and 11, but it is Mr Langford's first child.
"It makes it a bit special to be the first child in Shrewsbury," said Mr Langford, aged 36.
Also celebrating were Darren and Jo Haycocks, who welcomed Evie Megan Haycocks into the world at 6.36am in Shrewsbury.
The couple from Llanymynech were relieved with the speed of the birth.
Mrs Haycocks, 24, said: "I've got a 13-month-old and I was four days in labour with her. This was 13 hours so that was a relief."
Mr Haycocks, 30, added: "It is a wonderful start to the new year."
Evie weighed 8lbs 6oz.
The fourth Shropshire birth was for Nick Reed and his partner Rachel Butterfield, who had a baby boy, weighing 6lbs 8oz at 6.54am.
Baby Sophie Neeves was born at 8.51am in the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital maternity unit in Gobowen.
