Vic and Karyn Faster didn’t spend Christmas morning opening gifts, but they both got a special present just the same.
The Floral Park couple’s newborn son Nicholas was born around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, which happened to be their first son Anthony’s second birthday.
“It’s a Christmas gift every year now, for both of us, and also now for both of the boys,” said Vic Faster, 37. “It’s our own Christmas story … It really comes together in a special way.”
The second Christmas birth was “pretty much a re-enactment” of the first, Vic said. The family of three went to Christmas Eve mass at Floral Park’s Our Lady of Victory Parish, then to dinner with family in Manhasset.
Around 1 a.m., while Vic was watching “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Karyn called him upstairs and said she felt like it was time to go.
They arrived at Katz Women’s Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park around 2:30 a.m., and Nicholas was born hours later.
He was due Dec. 20, and Vic and Karyn, 33, said they had expected he’d come earlier in the month, as is common with second pregnancies.
“Sure enough Nicholas hung out for an extra five days and then he came out on Christmas,” said Vic, a Garden City Park native who works for ConEdison.
Anthony spent much of Christmas Day with Karyn’s family in Glen Cove. He said over the phone that he likes celebrating his Christmas birthday with his new baby brother.
So far Anthony’s adapted well to being a big brother, said Karyn, a fifth-grade teacher at Alden Terrace Elementary School in Elmont.
“We expected a little jealousy, but he’s been such a big brother, big helper, bringing diapers to mommy and helping mommy change the baby,” she said.
Karyn and Vic moved to Floral Park from Douglaston, Queens, in November 2013, just before Anthony’s birth, settling on their home after viewing many others.
The village has proven a great place for young families, they said. The couple estimates there are about 20 children under age 10 on their block alone.
“They do a lot of family-oriented activities in this town, and it really promotes a lot of love and, in general, family activities that brings everyone together,” Karyn said.
Late December will be a busy time for the Fasters. In addition to the two Christmas birthdays, Vic’s birthday is Dec. 19.
Karyn said she’ll be “the queen of the house” for her August birthday, but she had hoped Nicholas wouldn’t come too early so he could share December with his brother and father.
“I was happy that I could celebrate all three of my special boys in December,” she said.
