Twice as nice! NC brother and sister have babies on the same day

Siblings Robbie Storey and Samantha Jones, along with their spouses, got the surprise of a lifetime when their babies were born the same day.

Storey, 27, and Jones, 25, aren't twins, so they don't share the same birthday – but their daughters do!

The siblings' brand new baby girls, Elaina and Riley, were born on Dec. 17 less than 15 hours apart. Riley was born at 12:40 a.m., and Elaina was born at 2:59 p.m.

Storey and Jones grew up in Johnston County and attended Corinth Holders High School, where Storey teaches now.

"We argued a lot, but we were definitely always there for each other," Jones said about their sibling bond.

"We'd always look out for each other -- and that's something we've carried into adulthood," her brother added.

Riley is the first baby for Storey and his wife, Alyssa Storey, who were married in April 2023. The two met seven years ago on a bowling trip with mutual friends.

Jones and her husband, Leon Jones, knew each other in high school but started dating years later. They got married in 2021, and their first child, Elijah, was born in 2022. Their family just grew with the addition of Elaina!

Perhaps it was in the cards for the babies to be born on the same day. Months before the girls were born, the two expectant mothers bought their babies the same going home outfit -- by pure coincidence.

The Storeys were supposed to have Riley on Dec. 29, but Alyssa Storey was induced just over a week early.

Jones's due date was Dec. 19, but Elaina also came early.

"They decided to go ahead and induce me, and it was like the longest waiting game in the world," she said.

The ladies were scheduled to be induced at WakeMed North Hospital on the same day, but there wasn't enough room, so Jones had to wait. By coincidence, the timing still worked out.

It was a complete surprise for the parents -- and grandparents -- when Riley and Elaina were born on the same day.

Jones loves telling the story to other people.

"I like watching the excitement they have when we tell them [what happened]," she said.

The siblings said their mother, Paula Storey, is obviously elated about her new grandbabies.

"She was so tired," Jones laughed, remembering the first days after the girls were born.

"She was over the moon ecstatic -- she loves every second of it," Storey said. "She was running back and forth."

After the babies were born, the families were placed in recovery rooms right across the hall from each other.

"The babies got to meet each other, and they brought their breakfast into our room and we ate together," Storey said.

Even the hospital's photographer brought the newborns together for their first photos as cousins.

A week later, the families were able to come together at Christmas with the two newest family members.

"Christmas was so big, I loved it," Storey said. "It was nice to get everyone together."

The baby cousins are beyond loved, and since they live only 45 minutes apart, their families hope they will spend a lifetime together.

"We're all excited to watch them grow up together," Storey said.