The most special gift of all for proud parents

Lacey McElhinney was thought to be Scotland’s first Christmas arrival, coming into the world at 12:16am.

Lacey was supposed to arrive nine days ago, but decided to delay her appearance. After a 17-hour labour, she finally made her entrance in a natural birth at Glasgow’s Southern General, weighing 8lb 10oz.

Lacey’s parents, Cheryl McGarvey, 26, and Andrew Mc-Elhinney, 26, last night said they were thrilled. Ms McGarvey, a beauty therapist from Clydebank, said: “We were expecting Lacey on 16 December, but she seemed to want to come on Christmas Day, which makes it all the more special.”

Another baby making an early appearance was Luke, born to Julie Knight and William Reid, from Prestonpans, East Lothian. Both mother and baby, who was born at 1:14 am weighing 8lb, were doing well.

Mr Reid, a joiner, said: “It is our first child so we are absolutely delighted. Life is great. The baby is behaving well and likes his food.”

Tayside’s first Christmas baby was a boy, weighing in at 6lb 15oz, at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, at 1:03am. The hospital said the child, who has yet to be named, and his mother Nicola Hutton were doing well.

In all, eight babies were born in Ninewells yesterday.

Elsewhere, the early arrivals included a boy, Cody, who was born at St John’s Hospital, Livingston, at 1:32am.

Cody weighed 8lb 9.5oz when he was welcomed into the world by his mother, Antonia McLean, 26, and father Colin, 32.

The first baby born at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Falkirk was a girl weighing 7lb 10oz.

Myah was born to Becky Thompson and Chris Docherty at 3:20am, and staff said they were due to leave hospital soon to spend their first Christmas together at home.

Midwives at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock said they were still waiting for the first arrivals.

Four babies were born in Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. Laura and Neil McKenzie from Westhill, Aberdeen, had a daughter, Libby, who arrived at 5:02am weighing 8lb 11oz.

In Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin, Rebecca Lynch and Tiger Anderson from Forres were thrilled by the arrival of a son, Levi, born weighing 8lb 11oz at 7:39am.