Dale and Amy Anne make their debut

Baby Dale snuggled his white mittens against his pink cheeks as his parents looked at him with a twinkle in their eyes.

He was born at 2 a.m. yesterday making him the first baby to pop into the world in Malta in 2010.

His parents, Clive Pulis and Redianne Bonello, beamed with joy as they held their first child who arrived a week early.

"I was at my cousin's house on New Year's Eve when I stood up from a chair and, suddenly, my water broke.

I had not planned to go out but ended up coming to hospital," Ms Bonello said, adding that Dale was born four hours later.

"We're really happy. No words can describe the feeling," Mr Pulis said, his eyes welling up as he gently touched his son's hand with one finger.

Health Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar, who toured the babies born at Mater Dei Hospital yesterday, pointed out that Dale had a nice date of birth that read 01-01-2010.

"Boy's are quieter than girls," Dr Cassar joked. "Believe me, I have two daughters!"

Four hours after Dale's birth, Amy Anne followed in another delivery room at 6.30 a.m.

Her parents, Sonia and John Debono, did not expect their second child to be born before next week. "However, it's a great New Year's present," they agreed, adding that their seven-year-old daughter, Chantelle, was also thrilled to meet the tiny family addition.

Dale and Amy Anne were the first two babies to be born yesterday.

"They will be the youngest in their class at school," Dr Cassar pointed out, as he handed their parents a small glass teddy bear as a token of their babies' special arrival into the world. He also handed out gifts to mothers and mothers-soon-to-be at the hospital. Among them was Donna

Caruana and her husband Saviour who had twins on New Year's eve at 4.30 p.m.

Like two peas in a pod, Emma and Maya were wrapped in white blankets and slept peacefully, oblivious of the immense joy their presence brought to their parents.