First pictures of Beyonce's baby Blue Ivy Carter

We recorded the announcement of the birth below but now, check out the first pictures released by the family. Beyonce and Blue’s dad Jay-Z don’t appear to have sold the images, choosing to release them instead on a Tumblr they set up especially for the occasion.

Here are the pics:

And here’s how we initially heard the news:

Here’s the full statement from Beyonce and Jay Z:

“Hello Hello Baby Blue!

We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012.   Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.     We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.

Beyoncé & JAY Z”

Beyonce is the mother to a baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter.

Hard to believe that I am so excited about the birth of a baby I will never meet. But I do so love a good news story and I am quite giddy with happiness for Beyonce and Jay-Z. (Added to which I have sort of been waiting to put up this news for at least two weeks since rumours of the birth of the baby first emerged)

According to E! online

Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed a daughter Saturday night in New York, the little one’s arrival coming via scheduled C-section, mutliple sources confirm to E! News

Friend and music mogul Russell Simmons was among the first to celebrate the arrival, tweeting the new parents: “congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z.”

Rihanna gave baby Ivy a warm welcome, tweeting: “Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih.

Remember the song she performed at the MTV Video Music Awards when she announced she was pregnant?