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WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE
Gracie Alma Adams wasn't supposed to arrive on Feb. 29, but she did anyway.

"I was scheduled for an ultrasound. She wasn't due for another week," said mother Andrea Adams of Whati. "We didn't think she'd come in at the same time as the ultrasound."

Two-year-old Criseyde is already embracing her role as big sister to newborn Gracie Alma Adams, right. - photo courtesy of Andrea Adams

To her surprise, she started having contractions at 1 a.m. on the leap day, which comes around once every four years.

"I was excited. The first thing I did was call my husband," she said. "That was the first thing that crossed my mind. 'I have to call Thomas!'"

Thomas Adams, who is a kindergarten teacher at Mezi Community School in Whati, jumped in his car, drove the ice road and arrived in Yellowknife at around 4 a.m.

Andrea's mother, Margaret Chalmers, was already in the capital after travelling from Fenelon Falls, Ont., to help take care of the couple's two-year-old daughter Criseyde.

Gracie Alma, now their second child, was born at 11:02 p.m. at Stanton Territorial Hospital weighing nine pounds two ounces.

When she arrived, her father Thomas had already been awake for more than 24 hours.

Now back at their home in Whati, Andrea said Criseyde is already taking on the role of big sister to baby Gracie.

"She's so happy to be a big sister right now. She's just elated," said Andrea. "She likes to hold her and help change her diapers."

Andrea, who teaches Grade 1 and 2 at Mezi Community School, plans to return to work in January, at which time Thomas will take six weeks off to be home with Gracie.

The couple, who are both originally from Ontario, met at teacher's college at Trent University in Peterborough, Ont.

They moved to Whati four years ago, and two years later had their first daughter, Criseyde.

Andrea, who was flown to Yellowknife three weeks before her due date, said the family is looking forward to spending time together back home.

"It was hard for our family to be apart for three weeks," she said. "We are happy to be back in Whati to grow together."

As for how they plan to celebrate Gracie's birthday, Andrea said they will likely make her birthday on Feb. 29 extra special, and on non-leap years celebrate her birthday on March 1.

"Every four years we'll have a really big celebration," she said.

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