Cricketer Ricky Ponting, the former Australian cricket captain, and his wife Rianna, welcomed their second daughter, Matisse Ellie, on September 8. Matisse Ponting joins big sister Emmy, aged 3.

Ricky flew home for the birth of his daughter after the first Test win against Sri Lanka. He is expected to return for the third Test, which begins in Colombo on September 16.

(Story and photo from The Daily Telegraph, September 8 2011; photo shows the Pontings with daughter Emmy)

Soccer player Matt Smith, the captain of Brisbane Roar FC, and his fiancee, Aicha Bendjelloul, welcomed their second child at at the end of August. Owen Edward Smith was born August 27 at 7.52 am, and weighed 7 lb 6 oz (3.34 kg). Owen joins big sister Ava, aged 3.

Matt and Aicha both emigrated from the United Kingdom, and became Australian citizens a couple of years ago.

(Photos from The Courier Mail, September 7 2011; and Townsville Bulletin, December 31 2009)

Breakfast radio host Jodie Oddy, and her husband Greg Oddy, welcomed their daughter Payton on Tuesday August 30, weighing 3.27 kg. Payton joins big sister Taylor, aged 10, from Jodie’s first marriage to cricketer Greg Blewett.

Jodie does breakfast radio for Mix 102.3 in Adelaide, and Greg Oddy is an ice hockey player who currently plays for the Adelaide Adrenaline. Jodie and Greg were married in Bali a few months ago, where Taylor was a bridesmaid.

During her pregnancy, Jodie used her pregnant belly as a billboard to raise money for the Flinders Medical Centre’s Neonatal Unit and managed to raise over $25 000. Jodie is now on maternity leave.

UPDATE

Jodie has revealed that Greg chose the name Payton, which he heard while playing hockey in Canada. Payton is #67 in Canada, and the more usual spelling Peyton is #34. Jodie seems to think the name is rare here, but there were 18 babies named Peyton born in South Australia last year, and it is #96 on the Top 100.

She also revealed that her older daughter, Taylor, was named after Taylor from the TV soap opera,  The Bold and the Beautiful.

(Story and photo from The Sunday Mail, September 17 2011)

Channel 10 news presenter, Rebecca Morse, and her husband, Channel 10 news reporter James Wakelin, welcomed their third daughter on August 17. Her name is Frankie, and she weighed 3.7 kg at birth. Frankie Wakelin joins big sisters Grace, aged 8, and Milla, aged 2.

Rebecca will be taking the rest of the year off on maternity leave, and will be back on TV early in 2012. She feels their family is complete now.

This is the second celebrity baby girl called Frankie for this year; the first one was the daughter of swimmer Michael Klim. Frankie Klim and Frankie Wakelin are both the third child in their families.

UPDATE: Rebecca revealed to an Adelaide gossip columnist that Grace and Milla helped choose their sister’s name. Frankie was one of the names on their shortlist, and when they read it to the girls, their eyes lit up, so they knew it was the right name.

(Story and photo from The Sunday Mail, August 27 2011)

There’s been a mini baby boom at the National Rugby League recently, with three baby girls being born to players and their partners in the past week or so. I’m putting them all in one entry together to save space.

Last week, Brent Tate, centre for the North Queensland Cowboys, and his wife Lani, welcomed their second child, a daughter called Macy. Macy Tate was born at 3 am on Tuesday August 16, and she has an older brother called Kyden, who turns three on August 26. Brent and Lani were married on Australia Day in 2007.

On Friday August 19, Brett Morris, winger for St George Illawarra Dragons, and his partner Kate Milliken, welcomed their first child; a daughter named Emily Isabelle.

On Monday August 22, winger for the Melbourne Storm, Anthony Quinn, and his partner Frances Imwold, welcomed their first child; a daughter named Summer Hope.