Christmas Gift - 2 babies 1 year apart on Christmas

Mom Gives Birth For 2nd Straight Christmas

Both Siblings' Arrivals Premature

UPDATED: 4:21 pm EST December 27, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS -- Christmas is definitely a day to remember in this family.Neither of Brandi Crew's children was expected to be born anywhere near Christmas, but early arrivals ensured their birthdays will be easy to remember.Crew gave birth to her son, Zachary, on Christmas Day at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, one year to the day that his sister, Bethany -- also a preemie -- was born there."It's like he was in competition already with his sister," Crew said, a day after Zachary's birth.Zachary came seven weeks early, weighing 3 pounds and 1 ounce. Like his sister did, he will have to stay at Methodist's neonatal intensive care unit for several weeks.Crew and the children's father, Charles Learned II, said they are thankful for both.

Crew said Bethany's survival encourages her."(Zachary) is premature and they have him on a breathing machine, but they expect him to do fine like she was," Crew said.The siblings' Christmas arrivals may be a first for Methodist.

"I've been here 28 years, and ... I've not seen a family have one child on Christmas and return the next year and have another baby as a Christmas baby," said Rita Hall, a registered nurse at the neonatal intensive care unit.Crew said it will be convenient to have to remember only one birthday for her children. But anyone thinking of a three-peat can think again."I got my girl and I got my boy. I'm done," she said.