Minnesota Couple Welcomes Baby Born Prematurely On Leap Day

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Feb. 29, Leap Day, only comes along every four years. The extra day in the month exists to account for the earth's orbit around the sun taking slightly longer than 365 days.

At 10:05 a.m. on Monday, Sullivan Reiter was born almost 3 weeks premature. It's as though he wanted to leap right into this world early.

"It really didn't occur to us, you know until yesterday, then I was like, oh wait a second," Nate Reiter, Sullivan's dad, said.

"I don't think I'm going to make it another 24 hours to beat the Leap Year birthday," Kelley Reiter added.

Mom said it was a smooth delivery. He weighs 7 pounds, 3 ounces and they plan on calling him "Sully" for short.

"We're in love with him, he's super calm and quiet and this is how he's been since he came out. Pretty chill little guy," Kelley said.

Sully  won't officially have his first birthday until 2020, when he's four.

Of course, Kelley and Nate said they'll celebrate every year- but haven't decided which day.

Even though having a Leap Day baby never crossed their minds throughout Kelley's pregnancy, they say they are not surprised.

"I think we have Murphy's Law. So, anything that could, I don't want to say go wrong," Kelley said.

Well, not wrong, Kelley said, but just a little more complicated.

"We're happy nonetheless, Leap Year or no Leap Year," Kelley said.

There were at least eight babies delivered on Monday at The Mother Baby Center at Abbott Northwestern. The chances of having a baby on Leap Day are 1 in 1,461.