By Vivian Collings
Grace Victoria Kent was born on Jan. 18, 2023; one of the first to be born with the Midwifery Services of Haliburton-Bancroft in 2023.
Her mom, Johnna Kent, and dad, Brady Kent, were “born and raised” in Haliburton County.
With Brady from Minden originally and Johnna from Haliburton, the couple met in high school.
The two met in 2010, graduated HHSS in 2011, and were engaged by 2016. They were high school sweethearts at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, and got married in 2019.
“We’ve been together ever since we started dating,” Johnna said.
Johnna works for Haliburton Highlands Health Services as a personal support worker, and Brady is a heavy equipment operator and landscaper.
“We both always wanted to raise kids here. Having grown up here, we knew it would be a good place to raise kids. Brady and I love hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. He’s just starting to get our two-year-old out snowmobiling, and she absolutely loves it,” Johnna said.
The pair had their now two-year-old, Ava-May, in 2020.
“My crazy two-year-old…” laughed Johnna. “She was born September 30, 2020. She’s a pandemic baby. She keeps us on our toes.”
Johnna said having her first child during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge.
“There was nothing to do. Luckily my other friend had a baby too, so we hung out together.”
For both of Johnna’s births, she used the Midwifery Services of Haliburton-Bancroft throughout her pregnancy, but had Ava-May in a hospital setting.
Grace was born at home.
“It was a totally different experience this time,” Johnna said. “I knew I wanted to try a home birth, and the midwives were so great.”
Although Grace is just over a month old now, it’s clear to Johnna and Brady she has a much different personality than her sister.
“She’s definitely not like her sister. She more calm and relaxed for sure.”
“It’s hard adjusting to two, but we’ve been getting into a routine. Ava is a great helper, she helps a lot. Sometimes too much,” Johnna laughed.
Johnna is now on an 18-month leave to spend time with Grace and Ava-May.