Description

This PR does two things:

1. Adds more robust-handling of two-digit date strings, so that dates like 02/09/39 parse as 1939 rather than 2039,
2. Adds validation that sets boundaries around acceptable dates by not accepting dates before 1850 and after the current day.

Related Issues

#237

Additional Notes

N/A
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Checklist

Please review and complete the following checklist before submitting your pull request:

• I have ensured that the pull request is of a manageable size, allowing it to be reviewed within a single session.
• I have reviewed my changes to ensure they are clear, concise, and well-documented.
• I have updated the documentation, if applicable.
• I have added or updated test cases to cover my changes, if applicable.
• I have minimized the number of reviewers to include only those essential for the review.

Checklist for Reviewers

Please review and complete the following checklist during the review process:

• The code follows best practices and conventions.
• The changes implement the desired functionality or fix the reported issue.
• The tests cover the new changes and pass successfully.
• Any potential edge cases or error scenarios have been considered.