Is it possible to have a cell display text but have a numeric value?

I am looking to correctly sort publications. Cell values are
"January","February", etc. Sorting them puts them in alphabetical
order, so I would like the cell to say "January" but when I sort, have
it recognized as "1".

I'm hoping whatever solution might be available will also help sort a
different text field with the same problem. Values would be "45 (1)",
"46 (2)", "3", "4", "5", "6", and I would like "45 (1)" to come first.
Current sorting puts it at the bottom.

Any help would be appreciated. Thx.