The best gift

Lauren and John Lister welcomed their first baby, daughter Kinley, on Christmas Day 2010. Lauren’s grandfather, Russ Spilker, was born on Christmas Day in 1923. (Photo: Rosie Toes Photography)

Buzz Baby is a column about life with babies from the perspective of a first-time mother. If you have baby stories to share, leave a comment under this article or email [email protected].

The midnight hour was approaching on Christmas Eve 2011. As seconds ticked by on the tiny clock in Kate Burke’s delivery room, she wondered, along with her husband Erick, if they’d have their baby on Christmas Day.

The original due date was New Year’s Day, but, probably due to the hustle of the holidays, her water broke the morning of Dec. 24.

Her labor progressed and baby Aubrey Susan Burke entered the world at 11:20 p.m. that Christmas Eve.

“She was the last baby born on Christmas Eve, the hospital [staffers] named her Mrs. Claus and gave her a cute Santa hat and outfit,” said Kate. “The little guy born next door was named Santa Claus.”

Kate says Aubrey makes the season of Christmas even better for her family. “I truly believe she was the greatest Christmas present sent from my mother in Heaven, who passed away the year before,” said Kate. Aubrey’s middle name came from Kate’s mom, Susan.

For John and Lauren Lister, both accountants, having a baby on the actual day of Christmas runs in the family. The couple was expecting their first child, a baby girl, due Dec. 28, 2010. “I knew the chances of having her on Christmas were high,” said Lauren.

So high in fact, that it happened. Kinley Lister was born on Dec. 25. Kinley’s late great-grandfather, Russ Spilker, was also born on Christmas Day in 1923.

“I started having terrible contractions at work on the 23^rd,” said Lauren. “We went to the hospital late that night. However, I was sent home and was miserable. I spent all of Christmas Eve at home with my husband just waiting. My parents brought us food from our family Christmas party.” 

During Lauren’s hospital stay, their families brought gifts up to the hospital to open and celebrate baby Kinley’s arrival. “She was the best Christmas gift any of us will ever receive.”

Lauren says Kinley loves having a Christmas Day birthday. “She loves that her birthday is on Christmas day … for now,” said Lauren, laughing. “Everyone makes such a big deal out of her birthday, and she loves that her birthday is the same as Jesus.” 

To acknowledge her birthday on busy Christmas Day, Lauren says John gets her a Christopher Radko Christmas ornament for her birthday every year, and they have a special pink birthday/Christmas tree that is just hers. 

Lindsay and Tyler Brochstein had their son Alexander on Dec. 17, the day after Lindsay’s father’s 70th birthday and in the middle of Hanukkah in 2014.

The month of December is also a busy time of celebration for the Brochstein family. Lindsay Brochstein, an academic coordinator at a psychiatric hospital, and her husband Tyler, a lawyer, celebrate Hanukkah. The couple welcomed their first baby, a boy named Alexander, on Dec. 17, 2014, a date which fell during the eight days of Hanukkah, and one day after Lindsay’s dad’s birthday.

“We had gone out to dinner to celebrate my dad’s 70^th birthday and Hanukkah. About three hours after dinner, my water broke,” said Lindsay. “To be honest, I don’t remember any part of Hanukkah last year because the first days of my son’s life were such a blur….” 

Veteran holiday-baby parents, like Betty Costantini, a school counselor and mother of four, say it’s all about separating the traditions. Her youngest daughter, Isabella, was born on Christmas Eve 15 years ago this month.

“When we headed to the hospital [on Christmas Eve], which is the night we traditionally open gifts as a family, I was a bit out of sorts,” said Betty. “All the planning went out the window and my in-laws stepped up to run the show at home with my then 6-, 4- and 2-year-old children.”  

She says because it was Christmas Eve, the hospital was quiet with minimal staff. “It was almost surreal,” said Betty. “Isabella was born with minimal fanfare. I really enjoyed the quiet time with my little baby girl.”

Every year, the family makes a special birthday breakfast for Isabella on her birthday. Betty also uses special birthday wrapping paper for her birthday presents and Christmas wrapping paper for the other presents.

But no present will ever match the gift her parents received Christmas Eve 2000.