ALLIANCE assembly member Kate Nicholl said her heart is "bursting" following the birth of her daughter.
The former Belfast lord mayor, who is originally from Zimbabwe, spoke of her joy after she and her husband Fergal Sherry welcomed baby Étaín into the world on Monday.
The girl weighed 9.11lbs and was born eight days overdue. She is named after Ms Nicholl's late grandmother who fought against apartheid.
In a post on Twitter, Ms Nicholl thanked her followers for "all the lovely messages".
"We can’t believe Baby Étaín is finally here," she wrote.
"Our hearts are bursting and we’re endlessly grateful to the wonderful midwives at the Royal who looked after us so well."
Ms Nicholl and Mr Sherry also have a two-year-old son Cian.
The baby's birth comes just weeks after Ms Nicholl was elected as an MLA for south Belfast following the assembly elections.
She had canvassed in the May 5 assembly election while heavily pregnant and went on to take the seat of Green Party leader Clare Bailey.
Following news of baby Etaín's arrival, Ms Nicholl was inundated with messages on social media, including a post from Alliance leader Naomi Long who described the newborn as "such a wee dote".
Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey also wrote: "Congratulations to you all Kate, she’s beautiful - enjoy your new family bubble", while SDLP assembly member Daniel McCrossan also posted a congratulatory post.
