Introductions Are in Order...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to introduce you to Jolie Cate:









The Vital Details:

6lbs 4 oz
20"
Time of birth: 6:39 am

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".

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.

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.

Ok. We have hungry people in this room- and I am not talking about Jolie! Gotta go get some food!

Thanks for coming along...

Jon and Melanie

I 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.

Pictures etc coming as soon as it is possible.

Thanks for coming along...

Jon and Melanie

And They're Off!!!!!

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!

Thanks for coming along...

Jon and Melanie

A Different Kind of Waiting...

Now this is a different kind of waiting.

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.

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.

But now- this waiting is different. Not bad, just different

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.

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.

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.

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.

This waiting is the kind of waiting where its not a matter of whether its going to happen, its a matter of when.

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.

Talk about a pregnant pause...


Thanks for coming along....

Jon and Melanie

The Checklist is Complete...

No baby news yet.

But, this weekend was what is still my biggest photo shoot of the year- Upward Basketball at our church. Check

We had AFC Championship tickets. Check.

Jolie Cate, you are number one on the runway.

Your parents are waiting.

Will post when we hear!

Thanks for coming along...

Jon and Melanie

Now That's Not Funny!!! (But I'm Gonna Live)

I had one of those "one second lasts for an eternity" moments this morning. Here is the scene...

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.

So there I am pouring the coffee at 5:45 am... and the phone rings.

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.

So I answered the phone.

It was a recording.

It was from the Superintendent's Office.

We had a 2 hour delay at school.

The most anti-climactic 2 hour delay of my life.

Thanks for coming along...

Jon and Melanie

Things Are Heatin' Up!!!

So,

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.


THE NEXT THREE DAYS!!!

HOLY COW!!!!

OK. I'm fine. Just had to get that out.

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.

Oh, did I let that slip out? Did I not tell you already? Yep- we have a name for this girl and she is:

Jolie Cate Arvin

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.

But so would tomorrow.

Thanks for coming along.

Jon and Melanie