Cheyenne R. DeWitt was born at Samaritan Medical Center on Wednesday morning, but she will not celebrate her 1st birthday until 2016.

She is one of about three babies born at the hospital on Leap Day, a day that comes only once every four years.

Cheyenne was due March 14, but her dad, Michael R. DeWitt, had a hunch she would come early.

“He’s been saying the entire time that she’ll be born on Leap Day,” said mother Steffany M.

The Fort Drum family plans to celebrate the 5-pound, 6-ounce girl’s birthday on Feb. 28 during the in-between years.

“Because she was born in February, we want to keep it in February,” Mrs. DeWitt said.

They also wanted to match her birthday to her 5-year-old brother’s Nov. 28 birthday.

Mr. DeWitt said Cheyenne is not special just because of her birthday, however. Her middle name, Raye, reflects her father’s family history.

“She’s the first girl in five generations,” he said. “She has two great-great-grandmothers.”

Carthage Area Hospital was awaiting the birth of another Leap Day baby. Heather L. Provost and Timothy L. O’Connor of Newton Falls are expecting their first child together. They had not planned to have a Leap Day baby, Mr. O’Connor said, as Ms. Provost is a week overdue.

“It’s a bit overwhelming,” he said.

At Lewis Country General Hospital, Lowville, Lilliana V. Russell was born at 2:27 p.m. Her mother went into labor late Tuesday.

Parents Frances and Donald V. Russell Jr. of Black River said they are just happy their little girl has arrived.

Courtney Cabaniss, Norwood, is still figuring out birthday celebrations for her identical twin girls born Wednesday morning at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam.

Raylee Storm and Raylin Sky Loomis were born within three minutes of each other, at 1:59 and 2:02 a.m. The family plans to celebrate the older girl’s birthday Feb. 28, and the younger’s on March 1.

“It could be a little two-day event,” Ms. Cabaniss said.

Ms. Cabaniss’s daughters were the first born on Leap Day on the eastern end of St. Lawrence County. By late Wednesday, another woman was in labor at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam. Massena Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Tina R. Corcoran said there were no births Wednesday morning or afternoon.

Ms. Cabaniss said she may not tell the girls when they were really born until they are 5 or 6 years old, when they could better understand the concept of the 366th day of the year. For Ms. Cabaniss and her fiancé, Harold Loomis Jr. of Norwood, the Leap Day excitement is secondary to the thrill and joy of welcoming a new life into their family. The couple also has an older daughter, Sapphire Loomis, 3.

“We’re just proud they’re here and happy and healthy,” she said.

Johnson Newspaper reporters Elaine Avallone and Christina Scanlon contributed to this report.

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