Though Nekayla Walton’s baby girl has only been part of the family for a few weeks, she already has her three brothers — ages 9, 8 and almost 3 — sticking close to watch over her, according to her mother.
“She’s already spoiled,” Walton said with a hearty laugh. “Usually, my children are very quiet and calm, but she always wants to be in my arms. Sometimes, she will allow me to put her in the crib, but more times, she would like me to have her with me, sleeping right beside me. She’s very sweet.”
Jaelena Martin is one of two babies born on Leap Day this year. Another baby girl, Skyler Mcbean, was born to Britney Solomon by caesarean birth on 29 Feb.
Walton said, unlike her siblings, Jaelena didn’t break her waters before she first went to the hospital the morning of the 28th. She took her time, arriving at 3:33am on 29 Feb. after a full day of labour. Walton said her dad was especially excited as his birthday is 28 Feb.
“Actually, I didn’t know it was Leap Year’s Day at first,” Walton said of the once-in-four-years birth date. “Because of all of the pain, I wasn’t paying attention to the day.”
She said father Gerron Martin was the one who pointed out the special birthday. Martin and his daughter both have a single dimple on the same side of their faces.
Walton said though Jaelena took her time coming into the world, she seems eager to take it on, already kicking her strong little legs and seeming eager to start walking before long.
Grandpa’s prediction
Solomon said her baby was born in the afternoon on Leap Day. At first, she and father Theophilus Mcbean weren’t certain about scheduling the c-section for the holiday, but they decided it would make her birthday extra special.
She said doctors recommended a caesarean birth after seeing her baby’s size at her last ultrasound.
She was born weighing 8 pounds and 13 ounces.
“She’s very observant, she doesn’t play about her food, and she loves her nap time,” Solomon said.
Solomon said the family, including her 4-year-old daughter, is “very, very in love” with the new addition.
While the family was surprised by the special birthday, one person called it early on — Solomon’s father.
“I told my dad that my due date was March 3, and he said, ‘Uh oh, that’s pretty close to Leap Day,’ and then it happened that I had the baby on Leap Day,” she said.
Both mothers said though their babies will technically only have their 29 Feb. birthday every four years, they plan to celebrate every year.
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