Last Christmas day, the T&A recorded the first hours of two Bradford babies. Isobel Fox catches up with the tots (and their mums) to see how they'll be celebrating the festive season this year.

LITTLE CHARLOTTE Brannan has already developed a passion for shoes.

According to mum Gaynor, the happy almost-one-year-old is immediately attracted to lace-up shoes and will endlessly play with the fastenings if anyone wearing them gets close enough.

The other love in Charlotte's life is sleep, for the blue-eyed infant has been slumbering soundly at night since she was eight months old.

"She's a really happy little one-year-old and we're all looking forward to a family Christmas this year at home," said 26-year-old Gaynor, of Lady Lane, Bingley.

Mother and baby had to stay in Bradford Royal Infirmary until December 27 last year after Charlotte arrived on Christmas Day at 3.50am.

She is getting a little wooden rocking chair for her first birthday - a gift designed to last.

Bradford mum Vanessa Smith had even less time at home last Christmas, having spent almost a week in hospital before and after the birth of baby Jack.

"I'm a diabetic so they had to keep on eye on me, but the staff at BRI were wonderful," she said.

Vanessa, 32, of Fairweather Green, says that no Christmas joy can match the arrival of her brown-haired, blue-eyed son, the youngest of four.

"He's every inch a bubbly, inquisitive one-year-old. He sleeps all day and he's awake at night - I think he's taking advantage of the fact that he was born during the early hours!"

Jack's birthday means Christmas Day is split into two celebrations at the Smith household.

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