City’s Leap Year baby celebrates first birthday
Four-year-old Sienna Elizabeth Coates is jumping for joy after being able to celebrate her official birthday for the first time ever.
Sienna, from Thorney Close, was born on a Leap Year, arriving in the world on February 29, 2016.
For the last three years she has had to mark her birthday on February 28, but this year will be a special one for the Hill View Infant Academy nursery pupil, as she will be able to celebrate her fourth birthday on the anniversary of the day she was born.
Proud mum Tanya Abidi, 27, said the family are looking forward to the big day and are planning on having a double celebration with a special photoshoot, followed by a party at The Story Book in Boldon on Leap Year Day, today.
Tanya, a marketing assistant for Hays Travel, said: “This will be the first time she has been able to celebrate her birthday on the actual day.
“My due date had been February 25, 2016, but I had a feeling when I was pregnant that she was going to be late and that she would come on the Leap Year. I ended up being four days late and she was born at 2am on the Leap Year weighing 7lb 4oz. Since then we have always celebrated her birthday on February 28.”
Tanya said: “On her actual birthday we will be having a ‘make your own bear’ party where she will be able to make a unicorn and then enjoy the soft play with her friends from nursery.
“Sienna doesn’t understand that she is born on a Leap Year yet, she is just excited that it is her birthday.
“I have worked out though that when she is 16 her birthday falls on the actual day, but when she turns 18, she will have to wait to celebrate properly on March 1!”