May 2nd 2002

Francesca Rachel Austin

Born at 8.55 , weight 8lb 12oz, 3975g

10am

My first cuddle, the youngest baby I have held, since my own children, what a wonderful feeling.I know women have babies all the time but it is wonderful when your daughter and grandchild are both fine and healthy.

One very happy and relieved father

Anne-Marie phoned up delighted after the first night, she had got 6 hours sleep, couldn't remember when that had last happened. She thought it might be the drugs she had got that were affecting the baby, but Francesca kept being a good sleeper, most nights only waking up once. On a good bad night as early as 1.30am, but on a good one, Anne-Marie would wake her up around 3.30 - 4am

2 days old, Henry is very interested in his new sister, pats her gently on the head and says 'flat hand'. The first time he saw her he got a big smile on his face and said 'Francesca', well it sounded more like sangeka, a couple of weeks later it had improved to Frangeka. When we ask him what she sounds like he says 'bla, bla, bla'