“Of course it is going to be a boy, I am telling you; it is causing me alot more pain and I am a totally different shape!”  Were the words coming from Kate’s mouth two hours after the start of labour…  I responded “but if it is a boy we may never use the name Maria, we would have to go for another one!” …. “What, you must be joking” retorted Kate. 

“Anyway I think that it is a girl! So we don’t have to worry about it” and so it came to pass. 

Maria Lily Stephen was born at 00:17 on the 24 April and weighed in a healthy 7lb 7. The birth was amazing (from where I was standing) and Kate and Maria are both sleeping alot! The staff at the hospital were amazing and I can’t believe how lucky I am to have three beautiful girls. ”When can baby play in the bath with me? Please daddy, I won’t splash her” … 

 ”I am sure you won’t, but she is a bit too little at the moment”….  

 ”But all I want to do is play?”

 ”We have all the time in the world to do that my number 1 girl!”