To the surprise of an expectant Middletown mother, her daughter made her entrance into the world on leap day despite an original due date of March 16.

Airis Best, born at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport at 3:59 p.m. on Feb. 29, weighed in at 6 pounds and 1 ounce. She had doubled in weight in the three weeks since her last pre-natal measurement.

Last month, Nyaire Simpkins says she woke up in the middle of the night due to a bad stomachache. After hours of observation at St. Vincent’s, staff determined that she was in labor.

Simpkins was in labor for 36 hours before Airis made her debut. While leap day only occurs every four years, Simpkins plans to celebrate Airis’ birthday each year on Feb. 28 and March 1.

“She was always going to have big birthdays,” Simpkins says. “I can’t wait to give her the life I always dreamed of.”

Airis was one of two babies born on leap day this year at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.