tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46628587915666574962024-03-12T20:52:31.525-07:00Arvin Adoption Chroniclesjonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-31759992799127914832010-02-28T12:02:00.000-08:002010-02-28T12:09:22.264-08:00A Month Already?????<span style="font-family: verdana;">Its the same with all parents- you blink and all of the sudden you kid is growing up and time is flying. No exception here. Jolie is already one month old. That went quick. Experience teaches me that the next 18 years will go quickly as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you might expect, old Dad had to take a few photos yesterday. Here is a link to a gallery containing some of the best of the bunch:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.phoenixvisuals.com/jolie_one_month/index">Click Here</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I still need to learn some skin retouching skills- that will improve things a bit. But I think there are a few good ones.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-36052478314304341302010-02-06T19:12:00.000-08:002010-02-07T10:02:11.547-08:00Jolie's First Bath<span style="font-family:verdana;">So last night was bath time for the first time. We might have gone a little nuts on the photos. Oh well... Christian served as photographer as I was helping with the bath. Click on any image to see a larger version. Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24xQjVoi9I/AAAAAAAAAIA/wh5FLvbcccg/s1600-h/IMG_0012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24xQjVoi9I/AAAAAAAAAIA/wh5FLvbcccg/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435335960716413906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24xu31VXfI/AAAAAAAAAII/9vLN2pKz8Mk/s1600-h/IMG_0010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24xu31VXfI/AAAAAAAAAII/9vLN2pKz8Mk/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435336481614159346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24yF0pwj6I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/umspLR5iHuA/s1600-h/IMG_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24yF0pwj6I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/umspLR5iHuA/s320/IMG_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435336875897294754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24yjszb8lI/AAAAAAAAAIg/JVv7i3cvBJA/s1600-h/IMG_0014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24yjszb8lI/AAAAAAAAAIg/JVv7i3cvBJA/s320/IMG_0014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435337389186478674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24z2JIn28I/AAAAAAAAAIw/-zwIUVw6rIo/s1600-h/IMG_0013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S24z2JIn28I/AAAAAAAAAIw/-zwIUVw6rIo/s320/IMG_0013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435338805540805570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S240EPgrF-I/AAAAAAAAAI4/1P5HL2j6PWU/s1600-h/IMG_0017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S240EPgrF-I/AAAAAAAAAI4/1P5HL2j6PWU/s320/IMG_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435339047770462178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S240QWKwlFI/AAAAAAAAAJA/__2IBuOBQ_4/s1600-h/IMG_0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S240QWKwlFI/AAAAAAAAAJA/__2IBuOBQ_4/s320/IMG_0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435339255716025426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S270VpQkAXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/UXZ6y2JhXfY/s1600-h/IMG_0020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S270VpQkAXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/UXZ6y2JhXfY/s320/IMG_0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435550452972519794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S270501O9NI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/N6Tf2TVCkmw/s1600-h/IMG_0022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S270501O9NI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/N6Tf2TVCkmw/s320/IMG_0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435551074554410194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271Me0o-cI/AAAAAAAAAJY/SjxZb3NL5TM/s1600-h/IMG_0023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271Me0o-cI/AAAAAAAAAJY/SjxZb3NL5TM/s320/IMG_0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435551395063855554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271ffSbbII/AAAAAAAAAJg/a_8zyn9FHVI/s1600-h/IMG_0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271ffSbbII/AAAAAAAAAJg/a_8zyn9FHVI/s320/IMG_0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435551721606311042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271uMzHwUI/AAAAAAAAAJo/Su1YjMjh8RU/s1600-h/IMG_0027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271uMzHwUI/AAAAAAAAAJo/Su1YjMjh8RU/s320/IMG_0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435551974341198146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271_ASDpvI/AAAAAAAAAJw/8-n__B3fotw/s1600-h/IMG_0033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S271_ASDpvI/AAAAAAAAAJw/8-n__B3fotw/s320/IMG_0033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435552263039067890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S274Lc_GeaI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/OOROc6IA1pk/s1600-h/IMG_0034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S274Lc_GeaI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/OOROc6IA1pk/s320/IMG_0034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435554675925875106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S274obzJsvI/AAAAAAAAAKA/hWGPkKPG2SY/s1600-h/IMG_0035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S274obzJsvI/AAAAAAAAAKA/hWGPkKPG2SY/s320/IMG_0035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435555173823525618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2741VjoRhI/AAAAAAAAAKI/QODzfAKgcCY/s1600-h/IMG_0036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2741VjoRhI/AAAAAAAAAKI/QODzfAKgcCY/s320/IMG_0036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435555395486107154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S275J6xF2tI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/3GmnFXfoBwE/s1600-h/IMG_0038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S275J6xF2tI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/3GmnFXfoBwE/s320/IMG_0038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435555749072067282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S275bLBza9I/AAAAAAAAAKY/JoEBLIsVh18/s1600-h/IMG_0039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S275bLBza9I/AAAAAAAAAKY/JoEBLIsVh18/s320/IMG_0039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435556045494905810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2758S_0_zI/AAAAAAAAAKg/bcdpkzvNRos/s1600-h/IMG_0041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2758S_0_zI/AAAAAAAAAKg/bcdpkzvNRos/s320/IMG_0041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435556614569787186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S276JTo15YI/AAAAAAAAAKo/lDydA56RM4U/s1600-h/IMG_0046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S276JTo15YI/AAAAAAAAAKo/lDydA56RM4U/s320/IMG_0046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435556838080112002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S276Z6RG8sI/AAAAAAAAAKw/9TBjB31reCc/s1600-h/IMG_0049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S276Z6RG8sI/AAAAAAAAAKw/9TBjB31reCc/s320/IMG_0049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435557123327455938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S276ue-0eqI/AAAAAAAAAK4/KgFj87HVF2E/s1600-h/IMG_0052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S276ue-0eqI/AAAAAAAAAK4/KgFj87HVF2E/s320/IMG_0052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435557476780243618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S277F8r3c2I/AAAAAAAAALA/U37hEJwHvGU/s1600-h/IMG_0060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S277F8r3c2I/AAAAAAAAALA/U37hEJwHvGU/s320/IMG_0060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435557879890801506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S277WCvQQWI/AAAAAAAAALI/D5KDHmAJWro/s1600-h/IMG_0061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S277WCvQQWI/AAAAAAAAALI/D5KDHmAJWro/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435558156393529698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-89313675197584438142010-02-05T15:55:00.000-08:002010-02-05T16:43:22.328-08:00Joile and her Family<span style="font-family: verdana;">When you get to be Jolie's age, (9 days), you begin to look back and to value those things that really mean the most. Like family. And I have to say that Jolie has a pretty darn cool family. And they have been gathering around to welcome her home. So she thought it would be a good idea if some of you out there got to see her family. And with that, here we go!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">Jolie and her Mommy (oh, and Brinkley)<br /><br /></div><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2yyq7YXQTI/AAAAAAAAAGY/q7smzxz8c2c/s1600-h/IMG_0071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2yyq7YXQTI/AAAAAAAAAGY/q7smzxz8c2c/s320/IMG_0071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434915300893475122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">Joile and her Daddy<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2yzXVPbyFI/AAAAAAAAAGg/wbX-aXWLX-0/s1600-h/IMG_0030-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2yzXVPbyFI/AAAAAAAAAGg/wbX-aXWLX-0/s320/IMG_0030-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434916063749589074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jolie and big sister Sarah<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2yz2yBkyUI/AAAAAAAAAGo/V1GNj9d1SEY/s1600-h/IMG_0005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2yz2yBkyUI/AAAAAAAAAGo/V1GNj9d1SEY/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434916604052031810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">Jolie and big brother Christian<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y0ctd6SxI/AAAAAAAAAG4/ml_LmCoNb8s/s1600-h/IMG_0010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y0ctd6SxI/AAAAAAAAAG4/ml_LmCoNb8s/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434917255663733522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">Jolie and Grandma Jill (Grandpa Don had to stay in Florida)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y06F_uiRI/AAAAAAAAAHA/fNVoPNUax-0/s1600-h/IMG_0046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y06F_uiRI/AAAAAAAAAHA/fNVoPNUax-0/s320/IMG_0046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434917760464226578" border="0" /></a><br />Jolie and Grandma Arvin<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y1zEBf69I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/HN1LInv98Pc/s1600-h/IMG_0040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y1zEBf69I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/HN1LInv98Pc/s320/IMG_0040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434918739187330002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">Jolie and Grandpa Arvin<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y3Fcqd56I/AAAAAAAAAHY/w_2P4ZQhIM0/s1600-h/IMG_0029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y3Fcqd56I/AAAAAAAAAHY/w_2P4ZQhIM0/s320/IMG_0029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434920154550888354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jolie and Megan (She goes with Christian and counts as family)<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y4cmozViI/AAAAAAAAAHg/Lkpdsn_1fSs/s1600-h/IMG_0053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y4cmozViI/AAAAAAAAAHg/Lkpdsn_1fSs/s320/IMG_0053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434921651876877858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have some other family photos to collect- Jolie and Grandpa Don, Jolie and Corey (Sarah's man), Jolie and Chris, Noreen, Emily and Abby, (The Bloomington Arvins), Jolie and Jeff, Carol, and Natalie, (The Bellingham, Washington Arvins) and other extended family members. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But we should have time to collect some of those.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">Oh. And Brinkley gets his moment in the spotlight.<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y6NQb4k8I/AAAAAAAAAHo/HepIck1VPec/s1600-h/IMG_0017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2y6NQb4k8I/AAAAAAAAAHo/HepIck1VPec/s320/IMG_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434923587242333122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-74887955607142979012010-01-28T13:18:00.000-08:002010-01-28T13:23:37.421-08:00Another Set of Photos...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IALeEBo1I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/ljdxw2v8Lbg/s1600-h/set2-15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IALeEBo1I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/ljdxw2v8Lbg/s320/set2-15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431904297610748754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKyYqMSI/AAAAAAAAAGI/1nj2KO3Rcow/s1600-h/set2-14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKyYqMSI/AAAAAAAAAGI/1nj2KO3Rcow/s320/set2-14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431904285886132514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKirIbKI/AAAAAAAAAGA/UsmkqCPWgs8/s1600-h/set2-13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKirIbKI/AAAAAAAAAGA/UsmkqCPWgs8/s320/set2-13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431904281668644002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKf54BcI/AAAAAAAAAF4/m81ZFOtJB3w/s1600-h/set2-12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKf54BcI/AAAAAAAAAF4/m81ZFOtJB3w/s320/set2-12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431904280925177282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKLkH7jI/AAAAAAAAAFw/fM0Nm0QAtoE/s1600-h/set2-11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2IAKLkH7jI/AAAAAAAAAFw/fM0Nm0QAtoE/s320/set2-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431904275465236018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_3hJ1m1I/AAAAAAAAAFo/zHuW6yN5ksA/s1600-h/set2-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_3hJ1m1I/AAAAAAAAAFo/zHuW6yN5ksA/s320/set2-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903954843048786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_3Txol0I/AAAAAAAAAFg/vYnoxLB4LuU/s1600-h/set2-9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_3Txol0I/AAAAAAAAAFg/vYnoxLB4LuU/s320/set2-9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903951251871554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_20FD50I/AAAAAAAAAFY/pvp722aHxnE/s1600-h/set2-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_20FD50I/AAAAAAAAAFY/pvp722aHxnE/s320/set2-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903942743418690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_2ljJJSI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/uoW__8JOvqU/s1600-h/set2-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_2ljJJSI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/uoW__8JOvqU/s320/set2-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903938843059490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_2TPLGCI/AAAAAAAAAFI/Nw3gCMmBtbQ/s1600-h/set2-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_2TPLGCI/AAAAAAAAAFI/Nw3gCMmBtbQ/s320/set2-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903933927462946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_momOrbI/AAAAAAAAAFA/-LdNo3aJuxE/s1600-h/set2-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_momOrbI/AAAAAAAAAFA/-LdNo3aJuxE/s320/set2-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903664783404466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_mW3CzeI/AAAAAAAAAE4/FOFvC1jOetI/s1600-h/set2-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_mW3CzeI/AAAAAAAAAE4/FOFvC1jOetI/s320/set2-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903660022091234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_mGlrzXI/AAAAAAAAAEw/fjHNPIBG0ZU/s1600-h/set2-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_mGlrzXI/AAAAAAAAAEw/fjHNPIBG0ZU/s320/set2-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903655654313330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_l4tMmfI/AAAAAAAAAEo/yyF5Z3Gz3jU/s1600-h/set2-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_l4tMmfI/AAAAAAAAAEo/yyF5Z3Gz3jU/s320/set2-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903651927726578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_lvKxnHI/AAAAAAAAAEg/5dmjV8HklYc/s1600-h/set2-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2H_lvKxnHI/AAAAAAAAAEg/5dmjV8HklYc/s320/set2-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431903649367432306" border="0" /></a>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-18613996387346074432010-01-27T16:57:00.000-08:002010-01-27T17:03:01.333-08:00Photos? Why I just happend to have some right here...Some more pics!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiDlzw3fI/AAAAAAAAAEY/m6U7gyFrqzE/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiDlzw3fI/AAAAAAAAAEY/m6U7gyFrqzE/s320/jolie_birthday-18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589701925527026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiDMSK4JI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/iAbcJsuTQfk/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiDMSK4JI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/iAbcJsuTQfk/s320/jolie_birthday-16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589695073738898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiCy8iFiI/AAAAAAAAAEI/d--OVhdpFSE/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiCy8iFiI/AAAAAAAAAEI/d--OVhdpFSE/s320/jolie_birthday-15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589688272098850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiCvlkYeI/AAAAAAAAAEA/JYKnmpyAtmI/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DiCvlkYeI/AAAAAAAAAEA/JYKnmpyAtmI/s320/jolie_birthday-14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589687370473954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhxAgIH6I/AAAAAAAAAD4/YRTIXTvdq60/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhxAgIH6I/AAAAAAAAAD4/YRTIXTvdq60/s320/jolie_birthday-13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589382673407906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhwmPB1EI/AAAAAAAAADw/qMPVkT51mVM/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhwmPB1EI/AAAAAAAAADw/qMPVkT51mVM/s320/jolie_birthday-12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589375622370370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhwZO1r9I/AAAAAAAAADo/auSU3c_fIxc/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhwZO1r9I/AAAAAAAAADo/auSU3c_fIxc/s320/jolie_birthday-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589372131913682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhwGnnlUI/AAAAAAAAADg/oEzMlWXd9oY/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2DhwGnnlUI/AAAAAAAAADg/oEzMlWXd9oY/s320/jolie_birthday-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589367135573314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2Dhv8_e7mI/AAAAAAAAADY/rAFCoDi9ltI/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2Dhv8_e7mI/AAAAAAAAADY/rAFCoDi9ltI/s320/jolie_birthday-9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431589364551315042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thanks for coming along...<br /><br />Jon and Melaniejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-83737559197510230982010-01-27T09:02:00.001-08:002010-01-27T09:46:04.834-08:00Introductions Are in Order...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Ladies and Gentlemen,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Allow me to introduce you to Jolie Cate:</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByOiYGEYI/AAAAAAAAADI/ahpPXk7L-QQ/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByOiYGEYI/AAAAAAAAADI/ahpPXk7L-QQ/s320/jolie_birthday-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431466744680419714" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByOIEqzyI/AAAAAAAAADA/r76OdW-d_AE/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByOIEqzyI/AAAAAAAAADA/r76OdW-d_AE/s320/jolie_birthday-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431466737619619618" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByN6uVEBI/AAAAAAAAAC4/0Kia6DwSIFA/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByN6uVEBI/AAAAAAAAAC4/0Kia6DwSIFA/s320/jolie_birthday-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431466734036258834" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByNrkSJqI/AAAAAAAAACw/cQ-qV6HJ2WY/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByNrkSJqI/AAAAAAAAACw/cQ-qV6HJ2WY/s320/jolie_birthday-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431466729967593122" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByNQR24LI/AAAAAAAAACo/3P3pWwAjCiA/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2ByNQR24LI/AAAAAAAAACo/3P3pWwAjCiA/s320/jolie_birthday-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431466722642550962" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2Bz5Km50GI/AAAAAAAAADQ/8LtaXYaFDpI/s1600-h/jolie_birthday-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/S2Bz5Km50GI/AAAAAAAAADQ/8LtaXYaFDpI/s320/jolie_birthday-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431468576546082914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Vital Details:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">6lbs 4 oz</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">20"</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Time of birth: 6:39 am</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have now been admitted into the Mother / Baby wing and are taking care of Jolie. She makes little whimpering sounds when she is sleeping- just like Brinkley. She has a round little face and is absolutely beautiful. She had just had some formula when they first brought her in and she promptly spit up for us right on cue. "Hi Mom and Dad... blllaaaaaaat".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have been given a room where we can stay- as if we were the parents or something! Officially we are not yet, but there is nothing that is giving us any reason to worry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have had a visit from the baby's doctor and they rolled her over and poked and prodded and she was a trooper!! Hardly made a sound! Just a few of those cute whimpers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ok. We have hungry people in this room- and I am not talking about Jolie! Gotta go get some food!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-25230552691245774552010-01-27T06:07:00.000-08:002010-01-27T06:21:35.706-08:00I Don't Twitter But...We have a baby. We are at the hospital and have just learned, I mean 5 minutes ago, that Jolie Cate was born around 6:35 or 6:40 this morning. We have not seen her yet. The hospital and the agency have to get their ducks in a row and we have to sign some piece of paper before we can see her. We know she has a full head of dark hair. We do not know how much she weighs or how long she is or any of that. We talked to Alison's mom and she said that both Alison and Jolie are doing fine.<br /><br />Pictures etc coming as soon as it is possible.<br /><br />Thanks for coming along...<br /><br />Jon and Melaniejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-34206243838676327342010-01-27T02:16:00.000-08:002010-01-27T02:21:30.781-08:00And They're Off!!!!!<span style="font-family: verdana;">The call came this morning at 4:10. Alison's water broke around midnight and from what we can tell she headed to the hospital soon after. We got another call about 4:15 that said that they are indeed at the hospital and that things were progressing slowly. We are getting things together and getting ready to head there. We are taking the macbook and will be looking for opportunities to blog along the way- it all depends on arrangements, facilities, and the pace of the action. At any rate, we will pass along the developments as quickly as we can!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-28736096663231098402010-01-26T13:15:00.001-08:002010-01-26T13:45:43.567-08:00A Different Kind of Waiting...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Now this is a different kind of waiting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have all been there- we have all waited for things. And when you have waited a lot- in different circumstances- you become aware of the different kinds of waiting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We waited for a year and a half for someone to say, "I like this couple." Others have waited much longer, and there was nothing that made our waiting difficult or uncomfortable, (other than wanting a baby). We weren't in emotional or physical pain. We weren't poor or destitute. We were and we are blessed. We have good jobs in a good community and a good family and a wonderful church... the list goes on and on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But now- this waiting is different. Not bad, just different</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The other waiting was waiting for God's timing, not knowing when it would be. This is waiting for God's timing and knowing that it pretty much HAS to be any day. I mean, a baby can only stay in the oven for so long right? Well, we must be to the part where you sprinkle on some shredded cheese and put the dish back in for 5 more minutes to melt the cheese.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This waiting is full of the tension of knowing that the event is going to explode onto the scene and change things forever. And that it is only a matter of hours, maybe days.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This waiting is like a fire drill scheduled for 3rd hour. You know it is close, but you do not know the exact moment when the alarm will go off. You think you are ready but it still startles the begeebers out of you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This waiting is like watching someone blow up a balloon and they keep blowing it bigger and bigger and bigger... and you know that the latex can only take so much and that the balloon is going to pop, and you try to get ready for it because you know that the next breath is going to be the one that sets off the explosion...and even though you knew it was coming it makes you jump when it pops.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This waiting is the kind of waiting where its not a matter of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">whether</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> its going to happen, its a matter of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">when</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although we do not know the details of how this will all play out we do know that very soon there will be an event that will change our lives. No matter what happens, it will change our lives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Talk about a pregnant pause...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-39071730319983697782010-01-24T16:36:00.000-08:002010-01-24T16:40:48.651-08:00The Checklist is Complete...<span style="font-family: verdana;">No baby news yet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, this weekend was what is still my biggest photo shoot of the year- Upward Basketball at our church. Check</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had AFC Championship tickets. Check.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jolie Cate, you are number one on the runway.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your parents are waiting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will post when we hear!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-29732361785099751272010-01-21T03:18:00.000-08:002010-01-21T03:30:13.136-08:00Now That's Not Funny!!! (But I'm Gonna Live)<span style="font-family: verdana;">I had one of those "one second lasts for an eternity" moments this morning. Here is the scene...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am up and dressed- out in the kitchen- making the morning coffee and bagel. You know that we are living life like firefighters right now- waiting for the call. Waiting for the phone to ring.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So there I am pouring the coffee at 5:45 am... and the phone rings. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And there it was- the eternity moment. I thought, "This is it. Alison is in labor. In another 24 hours we are going to have a baby girl." I wondered what she would look like. I wondered if she would like sports or drama or horses or dollhouses... I wondered if she would be a good driver and how she would look when she went to the 8th grade Christmas dance and the prom and on her wedding day. I wondered if she would want to be a doctor or a radio personality or social worker or a teacher, (nah- not a teacher). I wondered if she would be left handed and if she would like to sing. I wondered what adventures God would take her on. I wondered if she would travel and see the world. I wondered if she would be daring or reserved- outgoing or shy. I wondered who she would be.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I answered the phone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a recording.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was from the Superintendent's Office. <br /><br />We had a 2 hour delay at school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The most anti-climactic 2 hour delay of my life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-81552436858354420142010-01-20T14:13:00.000-08:002010-01-20T15:59:00.721-08:00Things Are Heatin' Up!!!<span style="font-family: verdana;">So,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Birth Counselor calls today and says that our birth mother went into false labor last night and saw her doctor. Her doctor says that the big event could be anytime in the next three days.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE NEXT THREE DAYS!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">HOLY COW!!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">OK. I'm fine. Just had to get that out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now you never know about these things. This is the first baby for the mother, and that usually goes slow. But then not everybody plays by those rules, so it could go fast. So here is my thought- I will just go with the flow. We will go when we are called and meet our daughter. Our daughter, Jolie Cate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, did I let that slip out? Did I not tell you already? Yep- we have a name for this girl and she is:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jolie Cate Arvin</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, this Jolie Cate girl is going to come whenever she decides to come. I don't think that she is checking anyone's social calendar- she is just gonna show when she shows. But we do have tickets to the AFC Championship game on Sunday... I'm just saying- Monday would be OK.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But so would tomorrow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-32187533071106573682010-01-14T08:52:00.000-08:002010-01-14T09:29:55.269-08:00The Tour is In the Books!<span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, on we go!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We see every day and every contact as another milestone- another day closer to what we hope and pray for. And today is another step in the right direction!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We met Alison- the birth mother- at a Starbucks to chat for a bit and then headed to the hospital for a tour of the labor and delivery / post-partum facilities. We will deal with these events in reverse order... kind of.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tour was fine, but it was not really anything big or overly exciting. The hospital is brand new and the facilities are very nice. The whole thing took maybe 15 or 20 minutes. The nurse who gave the tour was very friendly and accommodating, but she did not know ahead of time that this was an adoption situation, and she did not know exactly how the hospital handles adoptions. But, she was warm and positive and encouraging, so I can't say that we were treated badly at all- which can happen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">By far the more important thing for us was the opportunity to spend some more time with Alison and to meet her mother who is serving as birth coach. That aspect of the morning was nothing but encouraging for us. We have felt comfortable with Alison both times we have been together and we felt the same with her mother. They are easy to talk to, and they are intelligent, friendly people. And, we get the sense that both of them are very pleased with us as adoptive parents. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the course of our conversation at Starbucks, where all important conversations take place, Alison asked about our approach to discipline. We lied and said that we believe in an environment that is firm, fair, consistent and loving, without being overbearing. Of course I am kidding. Well- I am kidding about the "we lied" part- that really is what we believe in... honest! Alison seemed well satisfied with what we had to say. We really do seem to be on the same page about a lot of things. It seems that when Alison asks a question we are able to answer it and make her comfortable with her choice. Its almost like someone is in charge of this or something!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We don't know every detail of the hospital plan, but we do know that Alison does not want us to be in the room while she is going through labor and delivery, and that is fine with us. She has indicated that she wants to sign the adoption papers soon after the required 24 hour post-birth waiting period has expired, but that is the kind of thing that you have to "wait and see". We are going to receive a call when Alison goes into labor and we can head to the hospital. But, until the papers are signed we are really no one of consequence. There are tons of hotels around the hospital, so we can get a room if we need to, or it might be that the hospital will give us a place to stay and wait there. We are flexible with that- whatever works is fine with us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the events of the day, I just have to say that it looks more and more like God has chosen this child for us. I just do not get any sense of a change of mind from Alison. I do not sense anything uncomfortable between us and her. Every day continues to be a positive day. I know that adoption can turn out like the mother of all Survivor blind sides, but that is not how it feels right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are content to take each day with the news that it brings. And today the news is good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Glory to God in the highest.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-64773515624391190902010-01-13T16:18:00.000-08:002010-01-13T16:56:59.000-08:00This Baby Stuff is Driving Me to the Bottle!!!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, I see what you were thinking!! Come on now, that's not what I meant! I meant baby bottles!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">See, this is an important decision- what kind of bottle do you go with? There are so many choices!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let's see, there is Born Free, and who wouldn't want to go with the bottle that is named after the 1966 movie about a Kenyan game warden who raises a lion cub and then sets it free! (And, we could sing the song all the time- "Born Free, as free as the grass grows.... uh-oh. I'm dating myself. Oh well. Get used to it.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But then there are Playtex bottles and they get really good reviews, AND, they have been around FOREVER. I remember Playex bottles from the last time around and that would be one thing that would give me some semblance of familiarity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Avent has worked really hard to make bottles that work well because they are shaped just like... umm... I don't want to get into that here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And if you want to give your child confidence, who would not want to feed them from a Prince Lionheart bottle? Oh wait. We are having a girl. Is there like a Princess Jasmine bottle?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Gerber is a trusted name. Evenflo sounds like it would work well. Do we want plastic? Glass? Well I do know this - its got to be BPA free. (I am pretty sure that BPA stands for Bottle Pungent Aroma- you know, that smell you get when you leave a half finished bottle sitting aroung a little too long... I think that they have bottles that mask the smell- thus the "BPA Free")</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Which one is easiest to clean? Which one holds up after repeated use? Which one will she like? What in the world should we do?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wait! I found one! There is one called Dr. Brown's! And I am pretty sure that it must be named after Alton Brown on the Food Network- cause after all, who knows more about the science of food and food prep than Alton Brown??</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I think we have a winner!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I vote Dr. Brown's!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">(But I am not sure I have the swing vote here...)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanks for coming along...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">More to come...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jon & Mel</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-31954168067119170182010-01-06T16:34:00.000-08:002010-01-06T16:42:23.168-08:00The Next Step...Just a quick update to keep those who are checking up to date. Hence the name, "update".<br /><br />We originally thought that our hospital tour with the birth mother would be this week, (either today - Wednesday- or Saturday). The dates didn't work out with the birth mother and her mother who is serving as birth coach. So... after trading some emails, the tour is now scheduled for January 14 at 10:00 am. That date works out well for us because Mel is off work and you don't have to twist my arm to take ANY day off from school.<br /><br />So, there it is- that is the next step. That is really all we look at- the next step. We are very willing to go one step at a time. However, I will say that the baby's due date is 3 WEEKS FROM TOMORROW!!!!!!!<br /><br />I'm calm...<br /><br />More to come...<br /><br />Jon and Melaniejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-59935318040614390242010-01-01T13:43:00.000-08:002010-01-01T14:43:57.436-08:00After A Long Period of Quietness...<span style="font-family: verdana;">That sound you hear is the door creaking and the dust being blown off of the Arvin Adoption Chronicles. If memory serves the last entry came around August of 2008. That is quite a gap. The reason for the gap? There was not really anything to report. There was a lot of waiting. And while there is nothing really wrong with waiting, there is nothing really noteworthy about it either. At least not in the day-to-day accounting. Not for blogging.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">During all of that time, Melanie and I held firm to one thing- when the right child was available at the right time, then God would make a way for things to proceed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It appears that the time has come.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">How to tell the story? Like a Star Trek "Captain's Log"? Naa. Christian will call me a nerd. Again. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like a childrens' story? Hmm... Not sure I have that much creative juice right now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've got it!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here we go...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a Friday. I was alone in the kitchen. Winter had arrived like Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation. Annoying. Unwanted. Harsh.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My partner and I had been walking the Adoption beat for over a year. To say things were slow would be an understatement. Aside from the occasional update and a phone call here and there, nobody was hiring. Yea. Things were slow. Government Health Care was changing faster.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then it happened. I was slicing apples for a pie. My partner was getting things for the office Christmas Party. The phone rang. I answered. The voice on the other end asked for my partner. I said she wasn't around, who wanted to know? They said they would talk to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Sure, go ahead" I said. The voice said, " We have a birth mother who has chosen you."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It took what seemed like an eternity for the words to sink in. My head began to swim with questions. Are they sure they have the right number? Are they sure they knew who they were talking to? Was this really serious? Did they really rebuild Hardees?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ok. Enough of the film noir. Let me fill you in...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A birth mother here in Indiana chose us as her "first choice" about mid December. The birth mother counselor who made the initial call told me that she was pretty firm in her decision to move toward adoption, and she had looked at several profiles and kept coming back to ours. These are all encouraging things! Oh... and she is due on January 28! Yikes!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The birth mother wanted to meet and talk with us and so a meeting was arranged for December 18. To begin with I thought it was going to be the scariest meeting ever. It was the whole thought of saying the wrong thing without knowing it. I mean, you never know what someone might not like. But, as the day drew closer, we became more confident and calm. Hmm. Coincidence? I don't think so. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The meeting really could not have gone better. She seemed very at ease with us and we were comfortable talking with her as well. We talked about a lot of things and we were together for about an hour and a half.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On our way home my cell phone rang and it was the birth mother counselor. She was there with us at the meeting and was calling to say that she, (the birth mother), loved us and wondered if we would be willing to come and go on the hospital tour with her in January. Now I am about as sharp as a marble, but I think that is a good sign.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So here is where things are now. The hospital tour is set up for January 6 and all is progressing in a positive direction. We have begun to prepare- purchased nursery furniture, registered for an upcoming shower- but we are trying to be wise in the things we do. We have heard the stories and know that adoption can change directions suddenly and drastically. There is nothing we have encountered so far to make us think that it will, but we just want to be reasonably cautious with our emotions. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are grateful for the prayers of faithful friends. We want to give a child a good home and we want to do it all in accordance with God's plan and timing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">More to come!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon and Melanie</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-11994566638984747982008-08-31T13:17:00.000-07:002008-08-31T13:55:18.626-07:00Ready...Set...Wait!!!!<span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >My, it has been a while- a while since the last post. I can only tribute the delay to insanity.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Not me!! Come on- I saw you thinking that! I'm not insane, its the start of school that is insane! Its the insanity of getting up at 5 in the morning- (no one should get up at 5). It is the insanity of every school in the school system moving and reconfiguring. It's the insanity of actually having to go to work. And... oh, the list goes on and on. It has just been insane. And I am not sure that you can say that sanity is returning- its more like we are getting used to the new insanity and so we can breathe again.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Anyway</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, when we last left off, (July 16), I told our faithful reading audience about the education meeting that was scheduled for August 13 and how that was the "last thing" before our profile went into the pipeline.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, the meeting has come and gone, a hefty payment made, the profile submitted... and so now we wait.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The meeting was good. The discussion gave a lot of good insight into "how it usually goes" when you get the call that someone has chosen you are a potential adoptive parent. How it usually goes is that "every case is different." So I am not sure there is a "usual" or "normal". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So now we are in the audition of our lives. We have produced this profile that tells who we are and why we think we would be a good choice. Will anyone else think so? How long will it take?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have spent some time in waiting rooms. Waiting for the results of tests- waiting for news- waiting to hear... So what do you do while you wait? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Waiting will be the subject of the next several posts- that is unless they call next week with a baby. Hey, it could happen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe we better go get a carseat...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for coming along.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jon</span><br /></span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-19672730059984441522008-07-16T08:14:00.000-07:002008-07-16T09:10:06.299-07:00Mark Your Calendars...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, OK, you don't have to mark your calendar- but we certainly are marking ours!!! Why? Why, you ask?? Only because the Education Meeting with Bethany we have been waiting for has been scheduled!! The meeting is August 13 at 6:00!<br /><br />So, just what does that mean for the whole process? The Education Meeting is the very very last component of our home study. Once we attend the meeting, we are "in the pipeline." Our profile can be shown to potential birthmothers and we are eligible to be chosen as adoptive parents. Once we hit this point, the "real" waiting begins. There will be nothing else we can do. We will be one of those sets of parents who are just praying and waiting for some birthmother to look at our profile and say, "I like deese guys- deese are funny guys!" (Oops- slipped into movie mode there- 3 Amigos- remember?) But that really is the idea- our profile is what catches the eye of a birthmother- and you never know what might catch someone's eye.<br /><br />And while we are on the subject- this profiling thing, let me tell ya...<br /><br />It is not an easy process. I mean, let's think about it... All you have to do is write up a summary of who you are, how you got there, what makes you different, what makes you good people, what makes you good parents, what makes you a good family, what sets you apart from all of the other families out there, what makes your home the right kind of home, what reason to think there is that you will handle adoption issues well, how regular you are at paying your taxes, how you voted in the last 5 presidential elections (and why), your theories on discipline, nutrition, quantuum mechanics, the economy, global warming, public education, the Academy Awards, and which peanut butter is better, (JIF smooth)<br /><br />OK. So I am exaggerating a bit. But it is kind of like that. You have to distinguish yourselves from everyone else in about a page and a half. Not easy. The text of our profile went through 5 revisions and is pretty much in its final form now. The establishment of the August 13 meeting date gives us a time frame to work with. We want to have our profile ready to roll immediately upon the completion of the Education Meeting. So, in the next month we will have to get the profile into its final format. I will add photos and work on the final layout and produce the copies in order to have the whole thing ready to go on August 13.<br /><br />So, there you have it. That's the latest. Home stretch on the profile, meeting in a month, then it will be, as they say, in the hand of God.<br /><br />Brinkley says "hi"- He stopped chewing on things long enough to say it.<br /><br />Thanks for coming along<br /><br />-ja-<br /><br /><br /></span></span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-25787142208791605912008-07-03T12:42:00.000-07:002008-07-03T14:18:46.425-07:00We Interrupt This Blog for the Following Special Announcement...<span style="font-family:verdana;">We have a new family member!! Now before you get down the road with this too far and start jumping to conclusions and saying things like, "Holy cow- they got their baby! There was no shower! I need to get a present! How did this happen so quickly! Oh my goodness!!!", let me put your fears to rest and let you know that the new family member is not a baby... well, it kind of is... WE GOT A PUPPY!!!!<br /><br />We have been talking about this for a while and we decided that now would be a good time. We are not traveling in July, I am home most of the day during the summer, and, we found a breeder fairly close with just the dog we wanted!<br /><br />Our new little guy, Brinkley, (named after Tom Hanks' dog in You've Got Mail), is a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and is about 8 weeks old. He is pretty small, (a skadoosh over 3 pounds) and will be around 15 pounds when he is full grown. He is a "blenheim" King Charles, which for the rest of us means that he is a mix of brown and white. We just got him on Wednesday, (7/2), and so now we have been dog owners for a whole day!<br /><br />We were fully prepared for a long night last night but I put him in his crate, read him his bedtime story, gave him some warm milk...oh wait, I am getting our adoptions confused- those are things I will do with the baby... Anyway, I put him in his crate, talked to him for a minute, closed the crate door, turned off the light, and we never heard another whimper all night long. Totally did not expect that. We will see how it goes tonight.<br /><br />Photos of Brinkley below!<br /><br />I guess it is truly the summer of adoption around here. We have added a puppy to the mix. Now on to the main attraction... a baby!!!<br /><br /><br />Thanks for coming along!<br /><br />-ja-</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwBQ2E9I/AAAAAAAAAAk/kO5Ab2Z9aQs/s1600-h/brinkley-17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwBQ2E9I/AAAAAAAAAAk/kO5Ab2Z9aQs/s320/brinkley-17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218898736909259730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwTkjuaI/AAAAAAAAAAs/pPjZ1VbnKxs/s1600-h/brinkley-23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwTkjuaI/AAAAAAAAAAs/pPjZ1VbnKxs/s320/brinkley-23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218898741823781282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwTYUDrI/AAAAAAAAAA0/PT5DBA0aVOY/s1600-h/brinkley-25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwTYUDrI/AAAAAAAAAA0/PT5DBA0aVOY/s320/brinkley-25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218898741772422834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwL5oRAI/AAAAAAAAAAc/fPRCc6FhXxQ/s1600-h/brinkley-12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_d7dAkPw7geA/SG1AwL5oRAI/AAAAAAAAAAc/fPRCc6FhXxQ/s320/brinkley-12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218898739764675586" border="0" /></a>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-35131629396373241882008-07-01T16:39:00.000-07:002008-07-01T16:59:41.132-07:00No White Smoke Yet...<span style="font-family:verdana;">...but we are getting closer!! We met with our case-worker for the last time, and I think that as far as she is concerned, we pass! (We don't have that in writing yet.) As long as all involved parties get the paper work to the agency, we are only waiting for one more thing- the "Education Meeting". This education meeting is a bit of a mysterious thing to us. No one has really said exactly what happens. I guess they think that it is implied in the title. But we do know this- your home study is not complete and you cannot do squat until you have attended the meeting!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, when is this meeting? If you hear anything, let us know. Apparently these education meetings are scheduled "every once in a while", and as of our latest communication with the agency, no date has been established for the next one. We are just hoping that it happens before we wind up with a wheelchair and a stroller in the family at the same time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">(You all know I am just having fun with this right? We firmly believe that God is in control of the timing of this entire affair- it will all come together at the right time and we are willing to wait for God's timing. I have noticed that it is just a pinch better than mine!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the meantime, I have been writing the rough drafts of our "profile"- the document that will be shown to potential birth mothers to tell them all about who we are and why we are WAY better than any other family out there (kidding). More about this profiling process coming soon!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />For now- thanks for coming along!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />-ja-</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-84080935757821416662008-06-17T11:07:00.000-07:002008-06-17T11:17:21.793-07:0010 Reasons to Adopt When You Are 50...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Apologies to David Letterman-<br /><br />And now, Jon's Top Ten Reasons to Adopt When You Are 50!!<br /><br />10. 50 is the new 40!<br /><br />9. What a great fitness plan!<br /><br />8. I get to play with Super Hero toys again!<br /><br />7. Having children later in life worked out well for Abraham.<br /><br />6. The look on people's faces when the child calls me "Dad" will be worth it!<br /><br />5. I'm up half the night anyway!<br /><br />4. The baby gadgets are WAY cooler than they were the first time around!<br /><br />3. AARP discount applies to formula and diapers!<br /><br />2. There is this one chick who I think will really dig it!<br /><br />And the number one reason to adopt when you are 50...<br /><br />1. We have the opportunity to do for a child what God did for us!<br /><br />-ja-<br /><br /><br /></span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-17850942180645469012008-06-17T08:21:00.000-07:002008-06-17T08:48:51.498-07:00What's Happened So Far...<span style="font-family: verdana;">Once you are hooked up with an agency, there are things to do. To bring you up to date, let me give you the run-down...<br /><br />For us it started with a general information meeting. Several couples considering adoption come together for a presentation by one of the agency's representatives and hear a presentation about adoption and about the agency. We've done that.<br /><br />At the meeting you receive a packet with a ton of stuff in it- one item being the formal application. If after the meeting and reading through the material provided, you feel that you are ready to jump in, you complete and submit the formal application. The formal application must be submitted with a pretty substantial application fee, so when you turn it in it is somewhat like jumping off the high dive. You're in now. Let's get the party started. We've done that.<br /><br />Soon after the application is in you have to write an autobiography. I think that each of ours will be available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble sometime in July. We've done that.<br /><br />Once the autobiographies are in, you are assigned to a case-worker or social worker, and the "home study" process begins. Agencies go to great lengths to be certain that prospective adoptive parents are solid upstanding people. (At this point I would like for my two brothers to just be quiet). The home study involves meeting with the case-worker at the agency office and at your home, (thus the term HOME study). Home studies can be completed in 2 or 3 meetings. We have completed two, (including the one in our home), but we have one more coming. Apparently we talk too much or something.<br /><br />In the midst of all of this, you have to get physicals, which, Mother, I do every year anyway. And, you have to have blood drawn. Now anyone who knows me knows that I am a total wimp when it comes to needles. I mean, nearly pass out kind of wimp. But I will have you know that I had my blood drawn Monday and came through with flying colors- kind of a whiter shade of pale. (A nod to the older ones like me who remember that song)<br /><br />We have been fingerprinted and our "FBI" background check has been run. (The Agency assured me that my previous stint as an agent would not jeopardize our adoption chances at all.)<br /><br />We have attended a panel meeting during which we heard presentations from adoptive families and birthmothers which was very informative and beneficial.<br /><br />Our personal references are in, (thank you if you are reading this and you are one of the families that wrote references for us).<br /><br />So- what's left? Well, we do still have to meet with our case-worker one more time, (coming very soon), and we have to attend an "Education Meeting" at the agency. As of now we do not know when that meeting will be. It appears that the Education meeting will be the last item in our home study.<br /><br />Once the home study is complete, then it is on into the selection process. More about that in future posts!<br /><br />Thanks for coming along!<br /><br />-ja-<br /><br /><br /></span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-41394547286639928932008-06-17T06:22:00.000-07:002008-06-17T16:20:04.884-07:00A Little History...<span style="font-family:verdana;">In order to understand where we are, you have to know a bit about where we have been. So, let me explain- no wait... there is too much. Let me sum up. (Princess Bride- you knew that, right?)<br /><br />It was always our plan to have children together. Of course, I have two wonderful children from my first marriage, (Sarah- 21 and Christian- 16), and Melanie has now had a chance to do the stepmother role, but we really wanted to parent together- from the beginning. We talked about it before we were married and we decided that it was something we wanted to do.<br /><br />Well, when the Dad is 50, the clock is ticking more quickly than for some others, so we wanted to get the show on the road. Unfortunately, after what was, for us, a long period of trying... no luck. Finally in the summer of 2007 the stork came! Melanie was pregnant! The due date was early to mid January of 2008, and we were excited!<br /><br />But God had something else in mind. In September of 2007, Melanie developed HELLP syndrome, (google it if you wish), and very suddenly, she was in a life threatening condition. She was admitted to the hospital where they told us that there was no other option but to deliver the baby, (then at 22 weeks). Lucy Ann was delivered on September 15, but was too small to survive. We were, for a time, crushed. I say "for a time" because when you live with the God of the universe, you find healing and restoration no matter the intensity of the blow.<br /><br />In subsequent, (like that word?), appointments, doctors informed us that it would be a very risky thing for Melanie to be pregnant again. There was a very good chance that any pregnancy would end with the same result, and any pregnancy would place Melanie at risk as well.<br /><br />So, there we were. What do you do with the desire to parent when you cannot have children? Hardly a new problem, just new to us. We never thought we would be here. In our position, there are two options- surrogacy and adoption. We, being the responsible and rational people that we are, began to investigate both. (You know, they have those "For Dummies" books for <span style="font-style: italic;">everything!)<br /><br /></span>It didn't really take us all that long to decide to move toward adoption. Surrogacy has the obvious advantage of having your own biological child, but it also has some other associated issues that did not thrill us all that much. Lindsay Lohan offered, (she needs money), but we turned her down. We decided to move toward adoption.<br /><br />Even after you choose a direction, the choices do not end. With adoption, it boils down to this- you can go through a lawyer or you can go through an agency. We, being the responsible and rational people that we are, investigated both.<br /><br />We met with a local lawyer who specializes in adoption. He stuck us in a room where we watch a 90 minute, (not kidding), dvd about the firm and about adoption. Then he came in the room and said "Any Questions?"<br /><br />Just a little market research to any of you who are thinking of starting your own adoption law firm- don't do it this way. It doesn't work. At least not for us. We walked out certain that we would not be using their services.<br /><br />So- on to the "agency" route. We, being the responsible and rational people that we are, investigated more than one. But in the end, we settled on Bethany Christian Services. <a href="http://www.bethany.org/">Click here to see their site</a><br /><br />Now the process is underway. In the next post, I will bring you up to date on where we are in the process. Don't try to hide your excitement!<br /><br />Thanks for coming along!<br /><br />-ja-<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4662858791566657496.post-40739520153922755402008-06-16T15:51:00.000-07:002008-06-17T06:22:09.821-07:00The Purpose of the Blog...<span style="font-family:verdana;">We're Adopting!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That's right- after much prayer and consideration, we have decided to make an attempt at domestic adoption. More about how we got to this point in the next post. For now, let's establish this much: We decided to adopt domestically because, at least this first time around, we are interested in adopting an infant. International adoption usually merges a family with an older child. Maybe next time. This time, we want an infant. Yea, I know- that means late and sleepless nights, long periods of unexplainable crying, diapers that should be registered with the government as a toxic weapon... But it also means that first belly laugh, the first time they roll over, the first crawl, the first step, and, we get to do it together. Now if there just happen to be some afternoons when I have to rock the child to sleep and then find myself trapped under a sleeping baby, well then, I will sacrifice and sleep as well- (so as to not wake the child, of course.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, in order to keep friends and family posted concerning the progress of this effort, we decided to blog. OMG! We are just with it!! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Feel free to leave comments- we would love to hear from you. We will try to post as often as possible with new information, or just our latest thoughts and feelings.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let the journey begin!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">-ja-</span>jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11725938527961395084noreply@blogger.com0