North Bay residents share their Christmas birthday experiences

North Bay residents share with the Press Democrat via email their Christmas birthday experiences.

Melissa Fortney of Novato on her son Daniel Chance:

My son, Daniel Chance, was born on Christmas morning in 2011. He is a miracle baby in so many ways, and is my own personal savior, so the date fits. I was in labor all day Christmas Eve and didn't tell anyone. I hosted dinner at my house and finally went to the hospital only after my water broke. While I didn't 'want' his birthday to be the 25th, it was happening that day no matter what. After a very scary few hours, he was delivered via emergency cesarean section at about 3 a.m. He was the first baby delivered Christmas morning 2011 at Sutter Santa Rosa. He goes by his middle name, so that year we had 'Chancemas' instead of Christmas.

Carrie Fairchild of Santa Rosa on her son Wyatt Alan, 12:

Wyatt was born on Christmas morning in 2002. Wyatt came too fast for the doctors to get there in time and the nurses reluctantly delivered him. My dad was home cooking Christmas dinner while my husband, mom, siblings and friends welcomed my son into the world. The doctors cleared me to leave six hours after Wyatt was born and we were all able to go to my parents' house and have a very, very blessed evening.

From the time of Wyatt's first birthday, my mom has always made him her homemade pineapple upside down cake and has been the one to give him one birthday gift. We always put candles in the cake and sing happy birthday to him after Christmas dinner. Around the 3rd week in January we have a birthday party for him with friends and family.

This year, because of work schedules of family members, we moved Christmas to the Sunday before Christmas. It is the first time that we will actually get to focus our attention on just Wyatt and his birthday in the afternoon. I recently sat Wyatt down and asked him what he would like to do on his actual birthday this year. (He will be 12) Wyatt expressed that he was excited to actually have his birthday this year on his birthday ... He sat for a couple seconds and said, 'I want to help serve the homeless hot meals.' 'Can we do that mom?' So this year on Christmas, for his birthday, we will find a way to help out the community.

Wyatt is an amazing child with an amazing heart. I do believe he understands the true meaning of Christmas and it shows through his spirit of giving and doing the most selfless act. I love this boy!

And to make it a fun family tradition, we gave birth to my second son on New Year's Day in 2013. First baby to be born at Memorial and second in the county. It's kind of a joke in my family; We have holiday babies.

Chelsea German, 27, of Santa Rosa, born on Christmas Day:

The way we usually celebrate Christmas/my birthday is we do Christmas morning and birthday dinner. It's gotten a little tricky now that I'm married with kids. Now, we do Christmas morning with our kids at home, then we go to the in-laws and do a Christmas breakfast with my husband's family. Then we go to my family's house in the evening and open presents for Christmas, followed by a birthday dinner and cake for me.

I was not a fan of my Christmas birthday when I was younger because I could never celebrate my birthday on my actual birthday. Everything was closed and my friends were spending time with their families or out of town. Also, you only get presents once a year. Ha ha. I got a lot of 'here's your birthday AND Christmas present.' A lot of people would forget that it's my birthday so they thought that was a good cover-up ha ha. The plus side is I never had school on my birthday. I'm OK with it now. Seeing the Christmas joy in children's eyes is an amazing birthday gift!'

Sarah Perkins of Santa Rosa on her son Ke'Shawn Walker, born December 25, 1996:

Ke'Shawn was due on Christmas. and I went into labor at 12 a.m. and he was born at 7:47 a.m. at Santa Rosa Kaiser. He is currently a senior at Montgomery High and hoping to head off to Sac State and play football this fall. Along with his birthday, he is gearing up this week (practicing everyday but his birthday) for the Tri-County All Star Game at Piner on Dec. 27. We have done everything from celebrating half birthdays in June to planning birthday parties earlier in December or January. I always make sure to wrap Christmas and birthday presents separately (and Ke'Shawn always makes sure people don't lump them together). If anything he is extra spoiled to make sure he never feels cheated. I stressed during my pregnancy that he would be a Christmas baby, but the doctor assured me that only a small percentage of kids actually are born on their due date. I love that my son has a special birthday. It's always a conversation topic, and I think my son doesn't mind a bit.

Donald Finlaw Jr., 25, of Rohnert Park on his son Natanael Finlaw, 5.

My son was born on Christmas Day. He's still young to completely understand the fact that his birthday is on one of the greatest holidays. My wife is of Hispanic origin, so we have our family dinner on Christmas Eve. This gives us a chance to celebrate with family and focus on the holiday. The kids in the family open their gifts at this time instead of the customary Christmas morning. Half of my son's gifts are wrapped with Christmas wrap which he gets to open on Christmas Eve and half with birthday wrap, which he gets to open on his birthday.

My wife makes brunch on Christmas morning and invites our family over to celebrate his birthday. Since he is a Christmas baby, we still stick to the Christmas theme. We buy a cake or cupcakes and sing happy birthday to him. We don't want him to miss out on having a birthday party, where his friends would come so we plan them a couple months after his actual birthday, usually in February. This year, we did do something different. We are taking a family vacation, and we had him pick to either go to Disneyland or Legoland. He chose Legoland, so that's were we will be celebrating his birth.

Zoe Navarro, 12, of Healdsburg

Usually, I celebrate my birthday with my friends two weeks early, so that it is completely separated from Christmas. Sometimes, I wish I could celebrate my birthday on my real birthday, but I know that friends would not be able to make it; for it is a wonderful time to spend with your family, savoring the holiday spirit and the joy of Christmas.

When people ask me when my birthday is, I often respond, 'December twenty-fifth,' rather than simply saying, 'Christmas.' This reply merely puzzles people for a moment, before they realize that my birthday is on Christmas. Once in a while, I receive a birthday gift wrapped in Christmas paper or vice versa. I am often asked whether I enjoy having my birthday on Christmas. Well, the answer is yes. I love to see my wonderful family during the holidays and on my birthday, as well; I enjoy that my birthday is not all about me. If your birthday is not on a holiday, everyone is dying to see you, or give you their gift, but on my birthday, I like that everyone gets gifts; young children are simply flabbergasted at the fact that Santa has just been through their house; I like to share my birthday with everyone.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Happy Birthday to the other Christmas babies!