Rachel Dolynchuk - DO NOT READ!

If you're NOT Rachel Dolynchuk, please continue.
(If you are, Ninjas have been dispatched to your location to prevent you from reading further)


We just got this email from Carol, Rachel's mom:

Rach's birthday is january 30th. She wont be home...she has a long weekend and has gone camping so she wont be home till late Monday night.

So...if you can send her a quick e-mail over the weekend...that would be great.

She asked us to pass it along to various friends and family who know and love her, but since I'm terrible with email, I through I'd blog all about it. You can also check out her blog over there ---->

Keepin' it real,
Dave

PS> Corrina is amazingly sweet, awesomely coolish and rockin'!

Photos photos photos!

Okayokayokayokay.
People have been riotous in their demand for more baby pics. So here you go!


Here's the VERY FIRST PICTURE OF CORRINA EVER. (well, of her outsides, at any rate).














Here's Mom and Dad, in our first Family Photo!












Here's Corrina's Stuffy. Can you tell who he is? Dad got to pick him out and was very excited to have the privilage.







Here is a beautiful Hat! It was made by Auntie Heather to reminder Corrina that fitting in isn't so imporant and matching colours are overrated. It's her official Granola Crunching hat (she just needs some teeth. Right now it would be more like granola gumming and choking. Not so good).










Here's a pic of Corrina looking cute. It's only one of her many skills!








Here are a few shots from her first Photo Shoot (wow, I'm find that I'm really obsessed with "firsts" at the moment. I wonder how long that'll last.)










What a cutie!









And for some reason, lots of moms love pictures of their children screaming. I won't pretend to understand, but she still looks really cute.











And here's Mom and Daughter, cuddlin' at the lunch table. Both are healthy, both are well. Where is Dad? Well, Dad is behind the camera, isn't he!



Thanks for all the love! See you soon!

BABY!

Hello!

It is the afternoon of Friday, Jan 20th, and we JUST got home from the hospital with our BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL!!! Her name is Corrina Jamie Joy Colvinson! She was born at 1:26 am on Wednesday Jan. 18. We started off in early labour on Sunday Evening, went to the hospital on Tuesday at 4:00 am, and went into Active/Hard Labour around 6:45pm. Then, after the long time of anticipation, we had a VERY short delivery (5 pushes/10 mins?!), our beautiful baby came into the world. And she is BEAUTIFUL!

Janie was INCREDIBLE. She wanted to go without drugs and she did it! She was so strong and worked so hard, and she was Amazing. It was so hard on her when she wasn’t dilating quickly at first, but the last two centimetres took all of 10 minutes! Now she’s up and walking, getting her colour back, and generally being a great mom.

I am so proud. I have the best wife ever. Way to go, Janie!

Special mention has to go to our friends Allison, Candace, Heather, Sarah and Trisha who were there from 5:00pm Tuesday and help out amazingly all the way through the delivery! Every time Janie felt a contraction coming on, someone was massaging her back, someone had a cold compress on her forehead, someone else was holding hands and everyone was helping with breathing! In the end they were Human Stirrups! We were both so thankful for their support and true friendship. You have earned the right to be Aunties! (The new name for their house is “The Aunt Farm”)

Little Corrina did end up a little Jaundice and had to stay in the hospital for a few days, but in the end it was good because it meant Janie and I got a lot of great advice about breast feeding and bathing and such. Now we are home and learning to settle into our environment. Corrina looks so tiny in her crib, even though she is quite sizeable. Grandma Judy is here to help us out now and has already proven to be a much needed support. She arrive on the 19th, and relieved Dave at the Hospital so he could get a full nights sleep. Of course Janie doesn’t get that luxury, but even after days without really sleeping at all she is still going strong! As for Dad, I’m told I was a great support and a very helpful partner, but I have to admit that I MAY have nodded off once or twice during everything (EDIT: the nurses were taking pictures of him “sawing logs” in the delivery bed!).

This picture is one of her JUST out of the womb, with vernix and all! After laying on Mum for a while and then having the chord cut, Corrina was passed on to Daddy who got to play with her while the doctors took care of mom a little.

Anyway, we’re busy around here so I’d better get back to work, but thank you! Thank you to all who offered support and prayers, and who left all the lovely messages on our machine to come home to! Thank you for being our friends and family.

Much love from Janie, Dave and Baby Corrina (who may just be the first 100% pure blood Colvinson EVER!)

It's all beginning

Well, as of last night at about 6:30 i started getting real contractions!!! They were nothing to worry about, hardly noticable, and i was a at a social event until 10:30! We got home and went to bed fairly quickly. I did manage to get a few hours of sleep in between contractions that were getting stronger and waking me up, but only occuring every half hour. Morning came and contractions were getting closer and more intense, but still not too bad. Then i took a shower and things slowed down. Then i feel asleep, and things slowed down... and haven't really picked back up again. It is now 11am and i am feeling very good, not too tired, but a little worried that things are going slow.
Outside there is beautiful snowfall so we are going to go for a short walk, and then i will relax in the rocking chair (which seemed to move things along a little!). I know i have alot of hard work ahead of me, but bring it on!!!!

So keep your eyes open for a post announcing a baby in the next few days!

Yippy!

Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Before you read this post.. have you looked at the others? Baby room pics down below!

I did some baking tonight and since i can't share the results with alot of you i had better share the recipe!

So I am going to share one of my beloved cookie recipes. These cookies taste so healthy and yummy that i call them breakfast cookies. I am very serious about breakfast; it needs to be healthy and balanced and these cookies make the cut!

Banana Cookies
3/4 c. margerine
1c. brown sugar (really could be reduced to 1/2 c, especially if you add choc chips... i know, i know.. choc chips are so not breakfast food... well, maybe sometimes!)
1/2 c. mashed ripe banana (i often use more. when i don't have enough banana i use apple sauce.. also wonderful and moist!)
1 tsp. canilla
1 c. flour (white or whole wheat)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. b.soda
3 cups uncooked oats
1/2 c. chopped nuts and/or choc chips
***add any and/or all of the following: oatbran, wheat bran, wheat germ, flax seed (really yummy and makes them have a little crunch!), any other "healthy" things you have around, even extra oatmeal!

** the dough will be thick/clumpy and full of good things; the cookies don't spread out alot because of all the good hearty ingrediants. They pretty much stay in the blob you put them in.

OVEN: 375 for 10-15 minutes (bottoms browned)

1. beat margerine, brown sug, egg, banana and vanilla until creamy
2. mix flour, sal and b.soda together; blend into banana mixture with electric beater
3. using a wooden spoon mix in oatmeal, buts (ha ha, funny spelling mistake, i am leaving it!), choc chips, and healthy stuff
4. Drop by rounded TEASPOONS onto baking sheets (they are better little if you ask me, and they stay in the blob you put them in)

Happy Banana baking! I hope you enjoy them and make them your own... don't forget the healthy things!

Baby's Room

This is the room our beloved will soon live in!! Friends from church gave us a crib. Claire lovingly crocheted the blanket featured on the end! We painted our old dresser and added a change mat for the Baby's Bum! I have all the diapers, etc in the basket on the dresser (thanks girls) hidden behind some books in this picture! We have yet to put a shelf up above the dresser to put cute little things on display!
Here I am feeling rather sad that my baby has not come yet! But i was just being silly... i am not really as sad as i look!
Here is a clear view of the wonderful curtains i made for the baby. I found the fabric on sale.. what a wonderful thing! Oh, and our bathing centre!!
More lovely blanket made with care and tenderness... and you can see our turtle mobile thingy from ten thousand villages! They have awesome baby/children's toys and such there!
And here is just one more of my favortie things: leafy drawer pulls. If you know me (or have seen my engagement ring!) then you know i looooovvveeeee leaves and fall, etc... I was very pleased to find these drawer pulls and just love the way they look! Thanks Dave for understanding my need to buy leafy drawer pulls when simple ones would do! He loves me and likes my quirks!

So i am just passing the time until the baby comes to be with us in the outer world! Oh, i can't take credit for the pictures... dave took them... he is very good with the camera!
-the colvinson's

Happy Due date!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the encouragement and comments. While there is still no baby i had a pretty great day. I guess the baby knows best when he/she is due! Dave and i just got home from a nice long walk. I don't know if it will start labour, but while i was walking i sure could feel pressure and mild discomfort. Today was filled with many phone calls from people saying hang in there, a visit with friends, and 4 loads of laundry. I try to move about during the day as much as i can and then sit more in the evening when the ankles have gotten all swollen. Tomorrow i have an appointment with the doctor so we will find out if there is any progress going on inside.
That's about all i have to say at this point. Oh, one more thing: i like my cats lots and lots!!!

Janie

Supreme Chocolate Cheesecake

I made a delicious chocolate cheesecake last night! First cheesecake ever! I thought if i feed the baby yummy food it just wouldn't be able to resist coming into the world to eat more of the food for itself! Unfortunately the baby did not agree and is still enjoying the pleasure of nutrients through the umbilical cord.

So now i have a like 3/4 of a cake left, and only dave and i to eat it! Darn...

It is sunday night. One and a half days until the day date. Thanks for your prayers; i know God has the very best timing, has immense amounts of care and love for me, dave and the baby, and is watching over us all. I just need to find something to distract myself in the mean time, like making chocolate cheesecakes!

Happy waiting to you all!
Oh, i think you need more entertainment than just my ramblings, so i am going to put some funny pictures of Dave up... just one sec... there we go... he he he

































Oh, and these are some of our friends: Brad over by the Christmas tree, Tricia, Sarah, and KKKarl! This is on New Years Eve, before the party really got kicking and i forgot to take pictures!

ENGAGED....

...in the pelvis!!! That is, the baby! At my doctors apt. today she confirmed that the baby has moved down and the head is in the pelvis. I thought walking was a little harder than usual these days! I had fun being engaged the first time, and this time brings just as much excitement! tee hee

This of course does not guarentee the baby is coming within the next week, but it sure is on track for doing it's thing!

Today I had a wonderful visit with a friend from my second year in college! She lives and goes to school in Calgary, but is out to visit her parents in Winkler for the holidays. Because she needed to be back in Winkler (1 hr, outside the city) by 1pm we decided that we would have brunch together. She met me at my house and accompanied me to my 9 am doctors appointment, and then we went for breakfast/brunch. We had a wonderful time chatting and catching up! She also gave Dave, baby and I a beautiful present. Here is a picture of her and me, and the beautiful present! Thanks Heidi, you are very thoughtful. Oh, and the funniest thing: her and her boyfriend have a bet going on the gender, and the loser has to take the other out for dinner!!! Ha ha, i love it! Pictures:
Nice eh? It looks like it is a wood carving, but it feels and weighs more like some sort of stone. I am very grateful to be the recipient of such a lovely gift!

I am going to spend some time tonight working in dishes, and then i will put my feet up and watch some Friends on DVD, which will also give me some time to work on crocheting Dave's mitten!

We'll keep everyone posted!

39 Weeks

It is January 3, 2005 and our due date is ONE week away!!!! EEEEEEKKKKKK, can you believe that? I cannot, yet i wish the baby were working his/her way out this second!
Just to keep everyone updated on how pregnant i am looking, here are a few pictures! In these pictures you can see some of the Babino's room: Yellow walls, blue and green dresser, change pad, basket (for diapers, etc..)! We just bought a curtain rod,drawer pulls (pretty ones with leaves!), and a bulliten board for lots of shots of baby! We are also going to put a shelf on the wall above the dresser. I am having so much fun getting a room ready for the baby!
Have a Happy

Sewing and waiting

Firday, Dec. 30 was my last day of work. Now i am on maternity leave, which until the baby comes will be time to clean (nest, as some like to say), sew, visit with people, shop (not too much of this after christmas though!), and become mentaly and spiritualy prepared.
I am just doing my 'internet thing', drinking delicious Second Cup Vanilla Bean Hot Choc. (from our dear friends Jen and Jonathon) and waiting for a courier to arrive with my "record of employment" and vacation pay from 'the office' (i told them i could come get it, but they said they would courier it out.. just hope i am not the one who pays!). I was sewing baby room curtains until i ran out of white thread. My friend Candace is coming over with some in the next little while, and she is also going to help me figure out my sewing machine a little more. When i do a zig zag stitch the fabric gathers funny, so we are going to mess around a little with length, width, and tension!

I took a little break and finished the curtains! It is very nice to have them all done.
When the baby does come we plan on emailing most everyone (that we have an address for), and of course posting pictures on here, so keep your eyes open!

Happy days to you all

Martha nights!

I do not believe that we have blogged about our "Martha Nights." It may be a little embarrasing, but the fun is worth it! There are 5 of us involved in these nights, which sadly are now over because Dawna won the apprenticeship with Martha. Yes, you have it; we watched Martha the apprentice!! It was great fun to get together once a week (if we missed we would tape the show and watch it another night), to sit and enjoy fine, quality television and see the weirdo business side of Martha. What are we going to do now that the show is over? Will there be a Wednesday night of bliss in my weeks? Quick, someone start taping something we can all watch together!
In my stocking this year i received a particularily ridiculous present. Can you guess? Dave bought it for $2.00, it is a VHS, and it is an MTV special that i don't think people really watch anymore. Beavis and Butthead; these freaks are definately beyond sanity. But, i suppose he bought it for me because sometimes i talk about episodes that i saw in my highschool days. They are such a gross, immature, idiodic pair. Despite their rude and crude behavior, Dave and i just spent a half hour watching some epsodes off the video. It was funny, we laughed. We have no taste!

We had a wonderful New Years Eve. We spent the evening at "the girls" house. I brought my laundry along and washed quilts (hey, you can't pass up free laundry when you have big, beautiful homemade quilts to wash. Plus our machines in the basement don't have delicate cycles. Sucky!) We watched some hockey (can't go to the girl's house when there is a game on and expect the TV to be off!) ate lots of yummy finger foods (good job picking all that food girls!) had punch and pop, played scategories, and just hung out. Good times!
Dave is working on making a big batch of Chilli for dinner and then we head to the church to meet some of the Youth and walk down the road for a worship night in winnipeg. I spent the afternoon napping. It was actually rather wonderful. I usualy do not nap, and when i do i have such a hard time getting up and going again, and i can't sleep at night. However, we have both been feeling so tired that i doubt the few hours will interfere with my night sleeping! I am trying super duper hard to relax and rest, and dave has been a big help by sweeping up a little today, doing dishes, and now preparing dinner! Everyone needs a dave, perferably a different dave than mine.. i am not willing to share! Tee hee.
Happy New Year to everyone. Of course we are still awaiting our little babino.. 9 more days until the due date... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, and YEAHHHHHHHH!

Pretty Paper

Christmas Pictures Part II

Lots of pictures for everyone! During our Christmas shopping time Dave saw a Gingerbread tree kit at Michael's and decided that we should make it. He doesn't like houses because they tend to dry out and taste pretty gross by the time they get eaten. I whipped up the gingerbread (turned out moist and delicious!), and cut out stars. We have three different size star shapes already, but Dave was determinded to make the tree blend perfectly so he set to work trimming the edges of stars. I iced and decorated. Dave made a cute little angel that he carved from a jubejube, as well as little stars he carved from jubejubes! We shared the tree with our friends on Christmas day and it was all gobbled up! Many thanks to the mouths of our friends!
Dave made a beautiful nativity out of Potatoe heads this year! I thought that everyone should lay eyes on the creation. I think playdoh, potatoe heads, and coloring will be among the favortie activities of our toddler, and eventually glue and glitter (janie), and lego (dave!)! Tee hee!
Let's see, what other pictures did i post??? Oh yes, the little pottery bowl with the cute "ear" handles; i found this treasure at Value Village for $2! What a great deal. I love pottery things but they are usualy so expensive i only purchase them from second hand stores.
I asked Dave to do the dishes when he came home because i was making dinner. He happily agreed, and i thought i would take a picture of happy happy dave! (in truth i coerced him to smile big.. he was at the end of two loads and just wanted to sit down.. but pretending is fun!)

Hope you enjoyed the visuals! Take care friends,

Janers

Christmas Pictures Part I

Little Updates

Hey there everyone,

It's Dave here, and I thought I would just drop by with a little of this and a little of that, you kow. First of all, in response to Janie's last post: Every time you call it a Video Dance Party I can't help but think of Attoney General Janet Reno in a certain Saturday Night Live Sketch. While the dance wasn't quite as big or extravagent as advertised (or as well supervised) , it certainly was fun for our youth and very very loud (but I still can't believe they played Run DMC and Sinead O'Connor).
Secondly, Janie was right; Christmas was awesome. The only part that isn't so good is having to go back to work after Christmas, because work simply isn't as much fun as Christmas, and there isn't as much egg nog.
Thirdly, there are diapers in my home. There is a child seat in my car. This is starting to get scary. Exciting, but scary. I'm beginning to understand my Theology professor Tim Perry and his reaction when I asked him if he was exicted about become a father: He lifted his heavey head, looked straight through me and said "it's terrifying". (don't worry too much, though, I'm just going through a little phase. Most of the time I'm 100% thrilled. I'm just trying to respect fatherhood, and not pretend it will be easy or all laughs).
Forthly, Homestarrunner game day went well. The game proved once again to be awesome and cool, and well-recieved by all. We learned some valuable things and hope to keep it getting better and better. I hope to get "Special Abilities" up and running soon, as well as glueing the "item" tiles to heavier card stock for easier pick up. We'll have another game soon. I also learned two other interesting things, both from our dear Mr. Matt. 1. Munchins really is a fabulous game (I PROMISE I'll play it with you Bre!), and 2. Optimus Prime is Jewish! (who knew?).
Finally, I'd like to close with this: I don't know what I think of it, but please enjoy the link, and answer this question for yourself: What would I do if I found this under my christmas tree?

Sincerly,
DC

A merry Christmas

Christmas was wonderful for the small, but increasing, Colvinson family. We opened lots of lovely gifts (thanks for the all wonderful things from England. I was saying to dave that the items you picked out for us would probably be the ones we would have choosen ourselves!) , attended church, had dinner with our most loved friends (sarah, tricia, pam, george and eileen (the gal's parents) ) saw the movie Narnia (superb), built a snow person (thanks claire!) and chit chatted!
Monday was spent shopping for baby items and setting up the baby room. We played a wonderful game of carcassonne with our treasured Bre (we adorded the game) and then watched some of the movie elf! Tuesday i managed to find even more things to do in the baby's room! As well we went and finished up our Baby shopping and bought a stroller and change pad! We bumped into our beautiful friend Candace at toys'r'us. We had just been talking on the phone to her, and then there she was! it was super fun! I love coincidences... or blessings! At 2:00 some friends came over to play dave's Homestarrunner board game (he created a whole entire board game from his head! Now it is in the testing phase)! After dinner today (tuesday), dave headed off to a Much Video Dance, hosted by the Youth Coordinator for all the Anglican churches in winnipeg. All the youth are there and although dave is in no way part of the set up, supervision, organization, or clean up he decided he would of course go to see our youth and have a little video dance party fun! Hope your having a stellar time my dear! He he! The youth crave dances so we were very pleased when someone announced they were hosting a dance that we didn't have to plan!
I am just puttering around the house cleaning this, and tidying that... fiddling with this baby thing and checking some websites! I am really enjoying my days off.
On Christmas eve my feet were horribly swollen, and my blood pressure was a little high so i plopped myself on the couch with lots of cushions under my feet to elevate them. The baby hasn't yet dropped, but i imagine he/she soon will, and my right rib will be very thankful for that! My feet are doing alot better and have not been swollen the past two days now! So, i am feeling very ready for this little baby to come now. All in God's timing.
I am off to find something to do within our little abode! Take care all who read!
Janers

Debit Denial

Have you ever tried to pay for something with your library card?

Amazingly, it doesn't work.





BTW, Homestar game at my house, 1:00pm
-DAve

Joyfull Message

The angel said " Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

What an excellent message!

One of the Children's Program teachers always find incredible books and buys them for the classrooms. She found a most beautiful book with magnificant pictures; I want to share these pictures with you! I know they are pretty poor quality because i just photographed them, but please enjoy them. (I don't know if Rachel D. or Heather S. read this blog, but i think they would especially appreciate these pictures because all the angles look like rugged, happy fairies!)

Dinner, Ho HO HO, stinky cat poo, Owie stomache

Hi friends,

It is Tuesday, December 20th. 5 more days until Christmas, and 3 more weeks until our baby is officialy due to arrive. I am not ready for either. Christmas: i have some presents, i have been seeing things that make me think of people, i am excited to share and to give... but i really do not feel like i have taken time to reflect on the stuff behind all the giving. Try as i might to minimize spending and chaos it still feels like i have to participate in the many giving rituals. I just can't stop, even if i want to! I really appreciate the roots of this time of year: St. Nocholas and Christ's Birth. They seem to fit hand in hand, however Christmas and Santa Claus sure do not. How do i appreciate my savior and share love with people without being a consumer that really just hurts children in china while trying to spread light to friends?! I love the fact that St. Nicholas gave gifts to people who did not have much. That's really neat! And i am very glad that Mary heaved and groaned and out popped a little Immaneul head! Marvelous (i would still love to see an authentic, researched, dramatization of the nativity... something that was culturaly accurate and where the animals weren't hip hop drummers keeping time.. anyone know of a play or story book?? Do you think Mary would have given birth in a birthing tent with female friends? One bit of research i did once told me that the manger was a ledge in a stone wall, not a cute little craddle-like wooden box... it would have been very cold and hard..) SO yes, Christmas. I hope i learn to love and always be a keeper of peace.
And the other major event that slowly draws near: being a mother, birthing a baby... Either way, i just do not think i am ready for that. I keep trying to imagine my days with an infant: odd sleeping hours, happy sad, happy sad, getting baby ready, getting everything in the car, using the washroom to change the little diaper, going slower in general. What a task! I know there is not really anything much i can do to prepare for this, and that somehow i will 'just know what to do', and it comes naturally... i really hope paternal instinct comes naturally too, cause i think i am going to need alot of Dave's help. Not ready!
Dave did make an excellent Santa. He is so gentle with children and talking to them and understanding them is a gift he has. I know they could feel his care through all those layers of pillow, red velvet and white hair! Thanks Dave.

I am going to find something to make for dinner now. I want to know more about St. Nicholas and stop caring about Santa Claus and lists. My cats really stink when they use the box... peewwwwwwweeewwww! The lower part of my stomache (muscles in the pelvic floor?) have been aching all day and getting up from this here chair is really going to suck. I think the baby is dropping and things are stretching. That's all.
Janie!