July 2, 2009, will be a day Debbie Smith will never forget.

Smith, administrator for the Property Tax Commission’s office, became a grandmother for the first and second time that day when both of her daughters gave birth.

Smith and husband Brian of 32 years have two daughters: Amanda, married for five years to Jonathan Gibson of Harpersville; and Melissa, married for two years to Chris Phillips of Alabaster. The two sisters found out they each were pregnant within days of each other. Both had doctors from the same OB/Gyn Group, Henderson and Walton, who work out of St. Vincent’s in Birmingham.

The sisters knew from the beginning that their due dates were close. They enjoyed their pregnancy together and Grandma Smith loved getting ready for the new grandbabies.

But things got interesting when Melissa’s water broke at a family birthday party for her on July 1. Amanda went into the hospital that same night to be induced the next day.

When the sisters went into the hospital on the same night, July 1, 2009, they requested side-by-side rooms, which they received. Family and friends checked on each sister to see about their progress.

Gracie Lee Phillips entered this world first, July 2, 2009, at 7:54 a.m. weighing 8 pounds 5 ounces, delivered by Dr. Hudson, Melissa’s doctor, assisted by Dr. Jones, Amanda’s doctor.

Unfortunately, the side-by-side rooms had to be given up when Amanda had to have an unexpected C-section and was placed on another floor. When Dr. Jones saw Amanda, the first thing he told her was that he helped deliver her niece that morning. Brennan James Gibson was born at 7:56 p.m. weighing 7 pounds.

Both babies had some early problems and were in ICU, Gracie for six days, and Brennan for seven days. But all is well and the first cousins are today fat and sassy, and the sisters love being firs-time mothers together.

One of their nurses said that in all her 26 years as an OB nurse at St. Vincent’s, she has never seen two sister have babies on the same day.

July 2, 2009, will be a day that the Smiths will never forget; two daughters had their first two children, who will share a birthday forever.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by e–mail at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.