Today’s date, 12-12-12, is extra special for Cobb kids who are celebrating their 12th birthday today.

At least 12 kids around Cobb were born on Dec. 12, 2000: Natalie Suto, Carson Phillips, Raley Bull, Cheyney Carmack, Lauren Moskowitz, Amelle Lalena Davis, Sam Brown, Destiny Green, Carla Malone, Khayla Gregg, Emmanuel Carrasco and Thomas Gregory.

They are among about 11,000 babies who made their debut in the United States on Dec. 12, 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Natalie Suto of Marietta celebrated her 12th birthday with a 10-day trip to Brazil with her dad Steve and brother Stephen to visit her grandmother Eva.

“It has been a fun trip,” she said by phone Tuesday.

Natalie, who is home schooled, will return to Georgia with her family this morning.

“Her grandmother wanted to make it special for Natalie because of the day, so she invited her to come over, and my son and I joined,” said Steve Suto.

Carson Phillips, a sixth grader at Dodgen Middle School, gets to see his name and special birthday in lights.

His mother, Amy Phillips, arranged for the marquee at The Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square to scroll throughout the week to let people know her youngest son is turning 12 today.

“I realized when he was born that his 12th birthday would fall on 12-12-12,” Amy Phillips said.

They have a week of festivities planned for her son.

Today they will get photos of Carson in front of the marquee at exactly 12:12 p.m., followed by lunch at Marietta Pizza Company. On Friday he’s having a sleepover with friends, and on Sunday the extended family will celebrate.

“I’m pretty excited,” Carson said. “I realized in February that my birthday was on 12-12-12.”

He’s most looking forward to his slumber party.

“We are going to eat wings at Wild Wings and each of us are going to try and eat at least one of the Braveheart wings, which is the hottest one they make,” Carson said.

Carla Malone, who attends Marietta’s Sixth Grade Academy, said the birthday occurrence is “neat.”

She will be going out to dinner with family, getting her nails done and having a birthday party with friends.

Classmate and fellow birthday girl Khayla Gregg said she doesn’t have any plans but believes her parents may have something up their sleeves.

“I’m pretty sure my mom and dad are going to surprise me,” she said. “They are the king and queen of surprises!”

Emmanuel Carrasco, who also attends the Sixth Grade Academy, likewise thinks his family may try surprising him.

Thomas Gregory, a seventh grader at Marietta Middle, has planned a Doctor Who party.

“We have a themed party every year so this year I chose Doctor Who,” he said, adding that he thought it was “interesting” that he gets to celebrate his birthday on a month, day and year with the same digits.

Dates like today also bring out couples interested in getting hitched.

Anne Gordon, administrator at Cobb Magistrate Court, said they usually have in increase in the number of weddings performed on days like this but for some unknown reason she hasn’t heard much about it this year.

“We may get an influx of people just showing up,” she said. “We won’t know until (today). I do know that we are always a little cautious … wondering if there is going to be a good number of wedding ceremonies.”

She remembered 10-10-10 being a big deal, but in reality it’s like Valentine’s Day each year, “hit or miss.”

Couples don’t have to sign up for the 6 p.m. weddings today at the courthouse. Cobb judges have also been retained to perform four ceremonies today.

Leslie Turner, of the Cobb Probate Court, where couples apply for marriage licenses, said her office has not had an unusually high number of marriage-license applications.

Couples have until 4 p.m. today to apply for a marriage license in Cobb Probate Court if they anticipate getting hitched before 12-12-12 turns into 12-13-12.

Birthday kids Raley Bull and Cheyney Carmack attend Durham Middle. Lauren Moskowitz is a student at Dickerson Middle. Amelle Lalena Davis attends Daniell Middle. Sam Brown attends McClure Middle. Destiny Green is a student at Griffin Middle.