Duvan Christoph, born at 6:48am on Thursday, September 25th 2003. He measured in at 8lb 15oz, 21.5 inches.
This was the most amazing day of our lives. We stand utterly humbled, silenced by the incredible events that started to unfold 2:00am this morning. A joyous 3.5 hrs later we met the child that's filled our thoughts and hearts in the last 9 months. The testimony of this labor and delivery is a story worth told a thousand times over, giving glory to God who so thoroughly and carefully answered every single prayer we had regarding this day. Yet not only fulfilling our requests, but blessing us abundantly above and beyond all that we could think or imagine. We will surely tell you this tale, for God showed to us in simple terms today that He is the loving Father, intimately involved in the very details of our lives.
Here's Duvan 4 minutes after birth, bonding with Mommy:
He's the most adorable thing we've ever beheld.
Today was extremely hectic, and we had very little time alone of gazing at and studying our young child, figuring out who's genes won out where. A couple of things that we've noticed though: He's got his father's long legs, and seems to have a really long torso as well :). He inherited his mother's noticeably long fingernail-beds. His skin seems to be fair like his father's, while his eyes appears to hint signs of his mother's deep and absorbing pools of brown. He's mild-mannered, and never fussed except when the nurses pricked his ankle for blood to check his sugar-levels. He seems to possess his father's inability to wake up from sleep, and his mother's devoted love for it. Then again, he's had a pretty rough morning... He has an amazing grip, and will hold on to a finger with white-knuckled determination that causes your heart to melt like margarine in a searing hot pan.
Duvan hanging out on Daddy's Lap:
All three of us:
Oh, let me quickly introduce this site as well. It's Duvan's weblog, where you'll find weekly updates on what's happening in Duvan's life. Notice the "Post a comment" link below this (and all future) entries. It allows you to leave a note telling us you were here, or comment on what we had to say, etc.
We'd love to hear from you! (Afrikaans is okay!)
Hi ouens,
BAIE BAIE GELUK !! Ek hou nie eens van kinders nie en ek is bly vir julle part.
Baie seën en sterkte. Gelukkig weet ons die kleinding is in goeie hande.
Geniet dit!
Posted by: Abri | September 26, 2003 01:55 AM
Hi Julle
Dit maak 'n OOM nogal trots. Liefde en seen vir julle .
Van Oom Cobus Boshoff
Posted by: Cobus | September 26, 2003 02:01 AM
Hallo julle! BAAIE GELUK! Mag hy net vreugde bring!
Willie en Thana
Posted by: Willie | September 26, 2003 02:13 AM
Het julle gedink ons sal iets anders as Afrikaans skryf. Duvan moet van vroegs af weet waar sy wortels lê!
Die pragtige prentjie en die geluk van die oomblik het ons dag oombliklik verlig.
Die "warmte" en "liefde" wat daaruit straal het fisies van Amerika af oor die oseane tot by ons skerm gekom om 'n traan uit die oog te laat rol en 'n glimlag in ons harte te plaas!
Soveel mooi, soveel vreugde en soveel geluk!
Derick en Alida
Posted by: Alida | September 26, 2003 02:42 AM
Duvan! Wat 'n mooi naam ;) Jan, voor jy getrou het, het ek vir jou gesê: "Trou gerus, om te trou is heerlik. Wag net met die kinders. Kinders verander mens se lewens". Onthou jy? Nou is dit tyd om te begin uitvind waarvan ek praat! Geniet hom. En glo my, elke enkele dag wat verby gaan, word net nog lekkerder.
Posted by: Johan Langenhoven | September 26, 2003 04:37 AM
HI Guys
Congratulations to you both. This is truely life's most exciting and emotional experience that touches you on so many levels. Enjoy your little angel.
Love Zelda and Paul
Posted by: Zelda | September 26, 2003 05:59 AM
Congratulations guys! Duvan looks great, and so do you both! May God bless you as parents. Don't worry, you will be able to sleep - just not in the first week! Love, Pete & Maria
Posted by: Pete & Maria | September 26, 2003 08:01 AM
We are so happy for you guys!!!!!!!!! What a BIG baby. I almost passed out when I heard the size! His name is beautiful (especially the middle name). Please let us know if we can do anything for you. We stand ready to serve! We are just totally stoked and look forward to meeting Duvan when you are up for visits!
We love you guys!!!
Chris & Dana
Posted by: Chris and Dana Rue | September 26, 2003 08:38 AM
Dear Jan & Maresa,
We were all thrilled to hear the news of your new baby! It also was wonderful to see how God had answered your prayers in every step of the way. He is a great God! We pray abundant blessings to you all! Duvan is so handsome! We look forward to meeting him very soon. Love you guys! God bless you.
Vickie & Gary, Christie, Joey, Allison, and Katy!
Posted by: Vickie & Gary Keith | September 26, 2003 08:48 AM
Hi julle twee!!
BAIE, baie geluk!! Wat 'n wonderlike geskenk
van die Here!
Posted by: Ronel | September 26, 2003 09:19 AM
Oh, this is so beautiful, you made me cry!! You guys look awesome together. The mommy doesn't even look tired after the work of the night, did it go so easy? I can't wait to hear the story!!!
This is a very HANDSOME baby, maybe the first I have seen that isn't actually all red and wrinkled, only 4 minutes after birth!! What a nice nose! What big eyes! What a good grip! What an inspiring FAMILY you make! I see blessings all over the place here... Keep up the good heart! ;)
he he he
Posted by: Laetitia | September 26, 2003 10:06 AM
Jan en Maresa
Hoe ek nou voel nadat ek die klein mensie se foto's beskou het is onbeskryflik! Hoe anders as God se wonderlike Genade. Mag gister se geluk, die grondslag vir vandag en môre wees. Nogmaals baie geluk en ons sien uit om hom in ons arms vas te hou. Gee hom 'n ekstra drukkie van Ouma Martie en Oupa Japie!
Posted by: Pa & Ma Jacobs | September 26, 2003 01:41 PM
Dear Jan and Maresa,
I am soo happy for you guys. Duvan is adorable and the three of you look beautiful together!!! I hope I will get to meet him soon!
Love you,
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea | September 26, 2003 01:42 PM
Hei ou Pappievleis.
Bogger die lang bene. Daai bybie is geseend want hy lyk soos sy ma. Geluk, liefde en God se onmeetbaarheid vir julle kleinman.
Leon & Catherine
P.S. Ek like die tweede naam, want dit rym met Boshoff.
Posted by: Leon & Catherine | September 26, 2003 03:18 PM
What a beautiful family. I am so glad for you. Congratulations!
Maria and Aldo
Posted by: Maria | September 26, 2003 03:37 PM
Dit is soooooo lekker om julle laaitjie se geboorte so met julle te deel, dankie vir die prentjies hy is 'n handsome outjie ne!
Ons is so opgewonde saam met julle, en prys die Here dat alles so goed gegaan het.BAIE GELUK!
Liefde groete uit die UK xxx
Posted by: Schalk & Jana | September 26, 2003 06:19 PM
'n Kosbare wingerd-oes!
Geniet elke oomblik saam met Duvan!
Posted by: Tannie Rina | September 27, 2003 03:44 PM
Jan and Maresa-
We are so happy for you! You make a beautiful family!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your precious son with us today! He is beautiful and has a wonderful personality!!! God has amazing plans for his life! It is already abundantly clear to us that you are and will continue to be fantastic parents!
Nate & Heidi
Posted by: Nate & Heidi | September 27, 2003 09:47 PM
Baie Geluk!! Ek wens die BULLETJIE alles van die beste toe.
Ammi
Posted by: Ammi Postma | September 29, 2003 07:36 AM
Jan and Maresa,
It's so great that you have been keeping all of Duvan's fans updated through this website. It's almost like we already know him! Praise God things are going so well so far. Enjoy every moment of it!
In Christ,
Nicole and Keith
Posted by: Nicole and Keith | September 29, 2003 08:47 AM
Ek dink aan die dag toe julle getroud is; en dis regtig 'n voorreg om te besef dat dit die vrug is van 'n huwelik voor God.
Baie geluk! Mag God julle en Duvan seen met al Sy vreugde en vrede.
Groete uit Nederland!
Andria
Posted by: Andria | September 30, 2003 03:48 AM
Hi daar julle zoole
Erg oor 'b babatjie nê. Ek het eers vandag die fotos gesien. Veels geluk man en laat hom tog baba wees. Moenie hom more alreeds skoolm toe stuur nie. Hoop om julle binnekort te sien.
Gilbert (SA)
Posted by: Gilbert | October 9, 2003 05:22 AM
Die fototjies is tog te poenankies. hahaha!!!
Oom Gilbert
Posted by: Gilbert | October 9, 2003 05:24 AM
OH MY GOD!!! MY NAME IS ALSO DUVAN! I WAS BORN IN THE 70'S.
I'VE NEVER EVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE SEEN ANOTHER DUVAN!
I THINK I'M THE ONLY DUVAN IN ALL OF CANADA!!! I THOUGHT I MUST ALSO BE THE ONLY DUVAN IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL.
I MUST MEET YOUR SON! HE AND I MAY BE UNIQUE!
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ACTUALLY SEEING ANOTHER BOY NAMED DUVAN. ESPECIALLY BORN IN 2003!!!
A PART OF ME FEELS RELIEVED. ANOTHER PART OF ME HOWEVER MAY WISH TO BE TE ONLY DUVAN.
SOMEDAY WE MUST MEET
Posted by: D | January 31, 2004 12:31 AM
