At least we won’t forget our bundle of joy’s birthday

Florence Elsie Crellin was born at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester at 4.45am on 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year of the century.

Florence, who weighed 8lbs 4oz, is the first child of Jessica Cushing, aged 20, and her 24 year-old partner Matthew Crellin of Crickley Drive, Warndon, Worcester and was delivered after a 12-hour induced labour.

Both work at Costa cafe at Tesco in Warndon Villages, Worcester, which is where they met.

Florence was due the day before but arrived on 11/11/11, which is also Armistice Day, the day we commemorate sacrifices made in war.

Mum Jessica was exhausted and had not slept at all since her baby was born but little Florence slept soundly, opening her eyes just once after the flash bulb on the camera went off.

Matthew said: “No one can forget her birthday – ever. I’m the proudest dad in the world. It’s such a fantastic date – it’s definitely memorable.”

The couple are hoping to marry next year and are giving some thought to tying the knot abroad.

Jessica said: “She is a good mixture of both of us with Matt’s eyes and my eyelashes. She also has curly hair like both of us. She has giggled a bit in her sleep. We like that she has been born on such a memorable date.

“There’s no excuse to forget her birthday.”

Both were very complimentary about the care they received which they both described as “second to none”.

Jessica said: “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the midwife and student midwife.

“Those two, they really looked after us. They were with us from the start – all night.”

Patti Paine, head of midwifery, said both maternity units at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch had been ‘very busy’. There were nine babies born at Worcestershire Royal Hospital since midnight on 11/11/11 and seven at the Alexandra Hospital at the time your Worcester News went to press with more expected during the rest of the evening.