Paula Wilkinson with her newborn baby boy, Cody, born at 2.41pm on Monday 29th February at the South West Acute Hospital RMG01
TWO local families used the extra 24 hours that come on leap day to welcome a baby boy and girl who were born on Monday at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
Proud parents Paula and Alan from Florencecourt were joined by little Cody Mark Wilkinson born at 2.41pm and weighing 7lb 8oz.
Delighted new dad Alan told the Herald that the date of the new arrival wasn’t entirely a suprise: “We had an idea that we might have a leap year arrival. Some of the scan dates alluded to the 29th so we were preparing for it.
“Every baby is special and Cody is all the more so given the date of his arrival,” said Alan.
The couple are also parents to 16 month old Harley, who has already met his new little brother.
“I have a feeling that they’ll get on well and be great company for each other,” added Alan.
The other new arrival in Enniskillen on Monday was baby Orla, who was born to Belcoo couple Aoife and Shane McAloon. Orla’s due date was February 22nd, but she clearly had other plans.
Aoife and Shane McAloon with newborn, leap year baby, Orla and her big sister Emily RMG03
“We were hoping that she would arrive close to the due date since she is our second but she decided to hang on for a week,” said now dad-of two Shane.
Orla will no doubt be closely watched over by her big sister Emily, aged 20 months.
“So far so good between the two of them and Emily has been providing Orla with lots of cuddles,” added Shane.
The bonny babies join millions of others whose actual birthday rolls around only once every four years.
The odds of a February 29th birthday are about one in 1,500. The extra 24 hours at the end of February are necessary every four years — a leap year — to keep the calendar in line with the earth’s orbit around the sun.
The parents of Cody and Orla now face the decision of whether their leap year babies or “leaplings” will celebrate their birthday either a day early on February 28th or a day late on March 1st.
“Paula and I have talked about this and I think we’ll go with the 28th rather than making Cody wait an extra day!” said Alan
Meanwhile, Aoife and Shane are still debating when exactly Orla will be blowing out the birthday candles.
“We might mix it up a bit and just see how the days fall around weekends every year,” Shane said.
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