'Leap Year' baby; Arma couple welcomes their new arrival at Mercy hospital on this unusual day.

It sometimes seems that even birthdays can run in families.

Kristen Rank's husband, John, has his special day on Christmas. His sister and mother also have birthdays that fall near -- or on -- Thanksgiving and Easter.

Kristen's sister, Maegan Easter, of DeSoto, has a daughter, Addison, born just a few days before Easter.

On Leap Day, Feb. 29, the Ranks welcomed their first child, Charlie Jo, into the world. Chances of being born in a Leap Year -- which occurs every four years -- are just one in 1,461.

Delivered by Dr. Larry Seals, Charlie Jo was born at 2:50 p.m. Feb. 29 at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. She weighed 6 pounds, 5.5 ounces, was 20 inches long at birth and had nearly a full head of black hair.

"My due date was the 29th. Before I was supposed to come in for my induction, my water broke," said Kristen, who is a sonographer at the hospital. "We were sleeping and I was just getting ready to get up."

The couple, who live in Arma, said they haven't figured out how to celebrate Charlie Jo's birthday yet. Technically, leaplings will have fewer birthdays than their age in years. For example, a 40-year old born on Feb. 29 will only mark 10 birthdays.

In regular years, leaplings usually celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1.

But the Ranks are just glad Charlie Jo has arrived.

"I didn't care what day she got here," Kristin said Thursday.

Kristen's mother, Vicki Whitehead, who was visiting the new parents and newborn yesterday, agreed. "I'm glad she's here. I'm glad she's beautiful and healthy. I'm expecting another granddaughter in May, so I'll have three grandchildren.

"She looks a lot like her mother did when she was born."

Leap Year fun facts

The calendar has 365 days in a year, but it takes 365 days and six hours for the Earth to revolve around the sun.

This means that the calendar is actually falling behind by six hours every year, and left unchecked, the seasons would shift over time. In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar proclaimed every fourth year a leap year.

Famous leap year babies

Among the more well known leap day birthdays are those of Pope Paul III, born in 1468, singer Dinah Shore, born in 1916, actor Dennis Farina, born in 1944, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, born in 1960, and rapper Ja Rule born in 1976.

Source: Tina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott