2009's first bundle of joy

Late on Sunday night, Dec. 28, Rhealene Cook went into early labor. She was scheduled for a Caesarian section on Jan. 15, but little Christian Gerard Dentler came earlier than planned, and met the world on Jan. 1. He is Cook’s fourth child, and Lake County’s first baby of the new year.

Christian was born at 9:29 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces. He was five weeks ahead of schedule, and father Nick Dentler calls him his little moose.

“Imagine how big he would be if he was born at delivery time,” Nick said while looking at Christian’s delicate and “petite” face.

Christian is not one for fussing. It seems the only thing that bothers him is the sensation of water against his skin.

“He doesn’t like the water,” Nick said. “He didn’t make much of a fuss about shots though.”

It is understandable that a baby would cringe at the warmth of a bath coupled with the persistent chill of the air. But as the family lives in Polson near the Flathead Lake, chances are his aquatic disdain will be short lived.

Every child is born with a certain temperament and disposition to the world around them and the people who occupy it - Christian’s parents say he is rather easygoing and has a pleasant demeanor. Cook said she thinks her pregnancy diet contributed to his personality. Chocolate was a necessity during her pregnancy.

“I read in a paper that studies show eating chocolate makes for a happier baby,” she said.

Cook and Nick named Christian after Nick’s father Chris Gerard, and Cook’s grandfather Gerard.

“We just like the sound of the name Christian,” Cook said.

The operation took about 45 minutes, and Cook said it was nearly as painless as her stay in the new hospital wing at St. Luke Hospital. She said the security of the new wing is also comforting.

“I laughed throughout my whole entire c-section,” she said. “We were talking about who made it to the playoffs.”

She said the anesthesiologist was a jokester and made the procedure not only bearable, but fun. She said her four days at the hospital before the procedure were smooth sailing as well.

“It’s hard when you stay so many days at a place that’s not your home, but the nurses here are great,” she said. Her three other children: 6-year-old Ayden, 4-year-old Aryia and 2-year-old Andrew, were born in the old delivery area of St. Luke Hospital.

Last year, 155 babies were born at St. Luke hospital, and 158 at St. Joseph Hospital.