“It took me two hours to figure out we were in labour,” said new mom Jamie Third, “My contractions were five minutes apart when I finally figured it out, and when we arrived at Royal Inland in Kamloops they were three.”
New dad Dustin Doherty commented that they were fortunate to have no snow or ice on the roads, and even though the trip was fast, “We had a mellow drive.”
Both Jamie and Dustin were telling how Barriere’s first New Year’s baby came to be as they chatted with retired businessman Dave Baines who paid a visit to them and little Lena Lynn last Wednesday evening.
Dave asked the pair, “How did you guys get together?”
Dustin said he asked a mutual friend to introduce him to Jamie, but when he did “She didn’t want anything to do with me”. “Then when I lost interest she tracked me down.”
Dustin and Jamie laugh as he tells about their first date. It was agreed that Dustin would drive over and meet Jamie at a pre-arranged place. On arrival he started to back his car into a parking stall when he suddenly noticed Jamie coming towards him.
“She was walking across the parking lot as I was backing up; I stopped paying attention to what I was doing, all I could see was Jamie. Then when I got out of the car I saw how badly I had parked because I was so distracted by looking at her. I had to go back and re-park the car.”
The couple have been together now for two years, and say they are completely comfortable together. “We don’t argue – ever. We mostly just get along. We enjoy each others company.”
They say as soon as they Knew they were pregnant they moved from Kamloops and returned to their hometown of Barriere. The family now has a nice house with plenty of room to grow, and it is close to grandparents Tracey and Jim Third, who also live in the community.
“We wanted to raise our baby here in Barriere,” said Jamie.
The couple tell that Lena Lynn is named after Dustin’s mother, Darlene Lena, who passed away 17 years ago. The baby’s middle name is the same as Jamie’s middle name.
Jamie says she was “very surprised” when Dave Baines notified her that Lena Lynn was the first baby of the New Year to be born in the area.
Dave has annually recognized the first baby of the year in the area by presenting the parents with the baby’s weight in loonies.
Lena Lynn, born on January 31, 2011, at 3:55 a.m., weighed in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces.
Dave did the calculations; turning the weight into grams, and came up with a total of $339.50 for the new baby.
As Dave presented the cheque to Lena Lynn and her parents, he asked the couple if they will invest the money for the baby?
“We’ve already have opened up an RESP fund for her,” answered Dustin.
Dave commented that aside from the fact that he “loves babies”, one of the reasons he continues this annual donation to the first baby of the year is that these funds can grow considerably overtime, and can be of great assistance for educational and other opportunities for the recipient.
He noted that he himself has four children, and two of his daughters also have four children each.
“Babies are God’s little blessings, and it is an honour to be part of these events,” said Dave, “This is especially moving as I have seen this baby’s parents grow up as well.”
Jamie and Dustin say they are most fortunate to have such a beautiful baby. Asked what their plans are for the future of little Lena Lynn they both replied, “To be very observant as she is growing, and to help her to be who she wants to be.”