Fathers show off son and daughter for the first time, and the third child will be here in July

It was only three months ago that they realised their dream of having their first child.

Now Luke Harris and Daryl Lee are celebrating the birth of their second baby.

And the gay couple are due to become fathers for the third time in just a few weeks after controversially enlisting the help of three surrogate mothers.

Luke Harris and Daryl Lee, from Surrey, had their first child three months ago and are now preparing to welcome their third baby into the world after enlisting the help of three surrogate mothers. Pictured (from left): Pregnant surrogate Becky Harris, Mr Lee with son Phoenix Harris and his surrogate mother Bex Harris (behind), Mr Harris holding daughter Willow-Star and her surrogate mother Viktoria Ellis (right)


The couple, who met in 1999 and became civil partners in 2012, celebrated the birth of their first child, son Phoenix Blue (left with Mr Harris), on January 14. They welcomed daughter Willow-Star (right with Mr Lee) after surrogate Viktoria Ellis gave birth on February 25

Phoenix Blue (left) was born naturally after a 16-hour induced labour, weighing 7lb 15oz, while Willow-Star was born a healthy 7lb at surrogate Viktoria Ellis’s home after a 25-minute labour that was so quick the dads’ were woken by a text saying: ‘Your girl is here!’

Showing off baby number two for the first time, the civil partners told how their rapidly expanding brood has left them exhausted but elated.

The latest addition is daughter Willow-Star Shirley Harris-Lee. She was born a healthy 7lb at surrogate mother Viktoria Ellis’s home on February 25 – after a 25-minute labour that was so quick the gay dads’ were woken by a text message saying: ‘Your little girl is here!’

First child Phoenix Blue Harris-Lee – a boy – was born naturally on January 14 after a 16-hour induced labour, weighing 7lb 15oz.

His surrogate mother was Bex Harris, Viktoria’s best friend. Baby number three – known to be a boy – is being carried by Bex’s sister-in-law Becky Harris and is due in July.

The birth will mean Mr Harris – who is not related to the two mothers – and Mr Lee will have completed their family of three within seven months.

Mr Harris, 51, a computer programmer from Surrey, said: ‘Going from having an empty home to having two precious babies in a such a short period has been a whirlwind, but even after weeks of feeding on demand we feel overjoyed.

‘We are relishing every moment of becoming dads. We spent 15 years fearing we’d never be able to have children, so while at times, as every parent knows, you are completely knackered, the sense of elation far outweighs any negatives.’

He described becoming fathers as ‘life-affirming and life-changing’ for himself and Mr Lee, 41, a dentist.

‘We now truly understand what unconditional love means – the only downside is that we don’t go to the pub any more!’ said Mr Harris. ‘We now don’t look at ourselves as a couple, we are a family unit, and fiercely protective of our little clan.’

 

 

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