Leap Day 4-year-old will mark his 'first' birthday
Landry Mitchell Johnson celebrates his first birthday today even though he is 4 years old.
Landry was born on Leap Day, Feb. 29, 2000. Every year, Greg and Cindy Johnson celebrate their son's birth, usually March 1, but this is the first time they will be able to give him an birthday party on his actual birthday.
"He doesn't realize there is anything special about his birthday," Mrs. Johnson said. "He just knows he gets presents and birthday cake."
Having a child with a special birthday is nothing new to Mrs. Johnson. Her daughter, Courtney, 12, was born July 4.
"My dad cooks a pig every Fourth of July, and all the family comes over to celebrate," she said. "For years, Courtney just thought that was all for her."
Landry is growing up near several generations of his family on a 130-acre spread off Gordon Highway west of Harlem that Mr. Johnson affectionately calls the family compound.
"Yeah, he's pretty spoiled," Mr. Johnson said. "He's the youngest member of the family, so he gets a lot of attention around birthday time."
Despite being lavished with attention by his older relatives and having a unique birthday, Landry may actually get shorted this year.
"Before, we always gave him two birthday parties, on the last day of February and the first day of March," Mr. Johnson said. "This year, we're just going to do it on Sunday.
"But he'll still get plenty of stuff," he said.
"I want a big fire truck," gushed Landry, who was named for the late Dallas Cowboy's coaching legend, Tom Landry.
The last time Landry experienced Leap Day, it was significantly quieter than today is expected to be.
"He was born in Doctors Hospital, and I don't remember any other babies being born that day there," Mr. Johnson recalled. "I'm sure there were other babies born, but not there that day."