DeKALB – Riley Marks’ 12th birthday seemed as if it would never come.

But now that it is here, Krista Marks, his mother, said it would be bittersweet to see a day she has had marked on her calendar since he was born come and go. Riley’s birthday falls on the final of only 12 dates each century that feature the same number as the month, day and year.

“Now that he is actually turning 12 and is taller than I am ... it just came awfully fast,” Krista Marks said. “It’s a little bittersweet as he gets older, but we’ll just enjoy celebrating the day. There’s been an awful lot of build up.”