Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 05/00) - Nathan Ley Rankin-Lamb gasped his first breath at 3:20 a.m., Jan. 1, 2000, making him the NWT's official New Year's baby.

Born at Stanton Regional Hospital, Nathan was four days late and put his mother, Marsha Rankin, through 17 hours of labour. For Rankin, who is 17, Nathan is her first child. As she holds her newborn son tight to her chest, her eyes fill with tears as she looked down on his perfect face.

"It was exciting to go through nine months of carrying this child to finally being able to have it cradled in my arms," she said from the hospital shortly before being released on Sunday.

"It's my goal now to make sure he gets a proper education and to give him the opportunity to do the things that I didn't get to."

Dad Brian Lamb is right beside them, ready to primp a pillow or fetch a glass of water -- anything to make his little family more comfortable.

Lamb was in the Yellowknife delivery room when Nathan was born. He recalls cutting the cord, shouting at the top of his lungs "It's a boy," then collapsing to the floor from exhaustion.

"He was the first baby born in the New Year and new millennium -- but the most special part is that we have a new son," said the 20-year-old Lamb.

"It's a big responsibility but it feels great to look at something so fragile and know that we are responsible for caring for him. When I hold Nathan, I think he knows how much we love him."

The couple are now back in their home town of Fort Smith -- their eight pound 13 ounce baby boy in tow.

The Stanton Regional Hospital Ladies Auxiliary made sure the young couple went home with a large assortment of baby clothes, toys, and gifts to make their first few months as parents easier.

The hospital also donated an engraved plaque proclaiming Nathan Ley Rankin-Lamb the North's New Year's baby.