With seven sisters wanting to shower her with love and plenty of hugs, one thing is certain - Diana will not miss out on any attention.

“It’s fun having a new baby,” 10-year-old Sophie said, “but Ivy always hogs her.”

Parents Julie and Craig O’Meara are used to the activity of a large family and it seems baby Diana is also taking it in her stride.

Sophie, Ruby, 9, Ivy, 7, Fiona, 6, Evelyn, 5, Vanessa, 3 and Naomi, 2 (who at the moment happens to rule the roost in the O’Meara family) are always under the watchful eye of Julie and know how special this tiny little addition is to their family.

Julie in particular knows this, as after seven healthy and problem-free pregnancies, followed by two devastating miscarriages, carrying this baby to full term was something she and Craig did not take for granted.

The day before Evelyn turned five Julie felt the baby was going to make an entrance at anytime so made sure all the plans for her daughter’s birthday were in place if she wasn’t home.

Sure enough at 6am on April 26 Julie gave birth to daughter number 8 at Bega Hospital, leaving Craig in charge of the birthday celebrations, which had become a double birthday celebration for the family.

Evelyn’s birthday proved a memorable occasion and the two sisters will no doubt look forward to sharing many a birthday together in the future.

Diana is the 15th grandchild and 13th granddaughter for Tony and Robyn Allen of Cobargo and 20th grandchild for Helen O’Meara also of Cobargo.

Craig said he and Julie always knew they wanted to have children, but it was never decided on how many.

Craig, who runs a dairy farm, is from a family of four and Julie has six siblings.

With a house full of girls, he is revelling in the love and individual personalities of his daughters and “wouldn’t change a thing for the world”.

“At the end of the day I’ll take whatever comes,” he said.

“They are as good as having a boy, especially the older girls who help me out on the farm and can wrestle and clip cows as good as any boy.

“They are willing to get in there and have a go which is all that matters.”

The three older girls take a keen interest in farming and are proving very good at the show circuit, gaining experience and even awards with every show.

At last month’s Royal Easter Show in Sydney the girls showed many older competitors what to do when entering a cow and won an encouragement award and a $700 pair of clippers for their efforts, which they are extremely proud of.

With eight children to take care of, a farm to manage and home schooling for the four oldest girls, Julie and Craig obviously have their hands full.

But, come Mother’s Day next Sunday Julie will be able to put her feet up, even if only briefly, while the children treat her to breakfast in bed of bacon, eggs and toast, and of course, a cup of tea.

“Mum likes a cup of tea with an icing biscuit,” Sophie said.

With space on the mantelpiece now running out, the walls of the house are becoming a gallery of family photos.

“Each year it’s taking us longer to get photos of the new ones up though,” Craig said.

“We are happy and comfortable with the way things have panned out.

“And we are very thankful for what we have,” he added.

“We’re overjoyed to have another baby, it’s the best gift of all,” said Julie.

They thank Drs Salisbury and Marshman and midwives Beth and Julie for the safe arrival of Diana.