Coleen and Greig Pirie received a very special present yesterday with the birth of their daughter eight weeks early.
Lexi Rose was the first Christmas baby born in the north-east and her parents could not have been happier with her surprise appearance.
The couple, from Inverurie, were not expecting the delivery for another two months but their plans were completely up-ended on Christmas Eve when they were sent to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital.
Mrs Pirie, 30, said: “At first I just thought I had stomach cramps, and I had a midwife appointment in the morning anyway.
“But she said I needed to go to the hospital and I ended up in here.”
As the contractions began to slow down, Mrs Pirie sent her husband home to get ready for Christmas – only for him to come rushing back at 2.30am with the birth of their first child imminent.
“I think it was more scary for Greig than for me,” she joked.
Lexi Rose Pirie was born at 5.46am yesterday morning, weighing 4lb 1.75oz, and mum Coleen could not have been happier.
“She’s amazing,” she added.
And despite having eight weeks fewer to prepare for the arrival than they would have liked, the Piries found that everything fell into place easily.
Mrs Pirie said: “Lexi Rose was a name we both liked the whole way through, and it was between two names.
“But as soon as we said the name she opened her eyes.
“We’d been calling her that for the last three months but we wanted to decide when we saw her.”
Dad Greig, 39, agreed and said: “She’s perfect.”
Just hours later another couple welcomed their bundle of joy to the world.
Baby Dylan was born at 8.57am to proud first-time parents Kirsty and John Mackenzie, who had been waiting for him with his December 16 due date long past.
Cosied up with a little elf hat given to him by staff on the maternity ward in recognition of his special birthday, the 7lb 10.75oz baby boy could not have looked perfect in the arms of his delighted mum.
Mrs Mackenzie said: “He’s a very nice Christmas present.
“Our family are all going to be visiting us here, we’re very happy.”