IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

What are the odds? 8 lb, 9 oz baby born on 10-11-12 at 13:14

Katie Deremiah has a way with numbers when it comes to her children’s birthdays.Last week she gave birth to Laila Fitzgerald, born weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces, on 10-11-12, at 13:14 (military time for 1:14 p.m).Laila joins big brother Jackson, who was born on Sept. 10, 2011.“We joked about it my entire pregnancy, how cool it would be if she was born on 10-11-12 because her brother was 9-10-11,
Ryan Fitzgerald and Katie Deremiah are proud parents of Jackson, born 9-10-11, and Laila, born 10-11-12 at 13:14.
Ryan Fitzgerald and Katie Deremiah are proud parents of Jackson, born 9-10-11, and Laila, born 10-11-12 at 13:14.Courtesy Iowa Methodist Medical / Today

Katie Deremiah has a way with numbers when it comes to her children’s birthdays.

Last week she gave birth to Laila Fitzgerald, born weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces, on 10-11-12, at 13:14 (military time for 1:14 p.m).

Laila joins big brother Jackson, who was born on Sept. 10, 2011.

“We joked about it my entire pregnancy, how cool it would be if she was born on 10-11-12 because her brother was 9-10-11,” Deremiah, 26, of Des Moines, Iowa, told TODAY Moms. “We didn’t anticipate 8, 9, 13, 14 coming into play.”

Born on 10-11-12 at 13:14 military time, Laila Fitzgerald weighed in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces.
Born on 10-11-12 at 13:14 military time, Laila Fitzgerald weighed in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces.Today

Her husband, Ryan Fitzgerald, bought a lottery ticket after Laila was born. She may be a numerologist's dream, but to Deremiah, the numbers are simply a cool coincidence.

“They’re just numbers," she said, “but it is pretty neat that everything comes together.”

It took about 10 minutes after Laila was born at Iowa Methodist Medical Center for Deremiah to realize the flow of the numbers. Her delivery (vaginal, not C-section) was made extra painful by what doctors believe were kidney stones.

“When I figured it out, I just thought it was crazy that all the numbers just fit into place,” Deremiah said.

The digits were the talk of the ward. “My nurses were talking and laughing about it and they joked about us being on the news,” Deremiah said.

About three hours later, they were, making it a whirlwind first day for the family.

Fitzgerald, also 26, is a construction worker who builds bridges and Deremiah is a stay-at-home mom and dog groomer.

“I’m not too fond of math,” she said. “We don’t get along.”

But she thinks perhaps numbers will play a role in Laila’s life.

“She might become a mathematics girl,” her mom said. “She might be a professor one day.”

Whatever she becomes, the memories of the day she was born aren’t likely to fade.

“She’ll hear about it for the rest of her life, I’m sure,” Deremiah said. “I want her to know how special she is to all of us and how her day was such a big day.”

Lisa A. Flam is a news and lifestyles reporter in New York whose children were born at the perfectly ordinary times of 6:28 a.m. and 12:09 a.m.

Mom Katie Deremiah says she's not too fond of math, but thinks her children's birth dates are a cool coincidence.
Mom Katie Deremiah says she's not too fond of math, but thinks her children's birth dates are a cool coincidence.Courtesy Iowa Methodist Medical / Today

Why is 6 scared of 7? Because 7 8 9! More TODAY Moms stories:

Trending baby names: Zebulon, Django, Gatsby?

Yoga, triathlons and warfare training: Pregnant women do it all

Pronounced dead, revived by mom's hug, "miracle baby" turns 2

Duggars talk about their miscarriage, next pregnancy