Hello World

We started out at 4am this morning. Here she is ... Peyton Lindsey Arredondo... 7 pounds 4 ounces and 20 1\2 inches long.

Peyton Lindsey

no baby Arredondo

There are probably some of you out there wondering if there is a baby Arredondo. The answer is NO! Today is my due date, but it is already 3pm and I am just watching the day go by. I guess if nothing else I don't have longer than two weeks to go...but that's just absolutely depressing to me. I know Arnold is sick of me complaining. He's probably ready to throw me outside to live at this point. I can't remember a time in my life of ever being so impatient, frustrated, and anxious as I am now. I go back to the doctor tomorrow, who, by the way, told me that she definintely thought I would have the baby before the due date. Doctors ought to be outlawed from saying anything of that sort.

On the bright side, I'm not working anymore. Not that work is that bad, but it's so nice to stay at home. I've been cleaning like a mad woman today, and then it's off to the grocery store later!

I hope everyone read Arnold's blog a few days ago titled "Rue de la Course". It was the sweetest thing ever. :)

Rue de la Course

Joy and I went to one of my favorite coffee shops in New Orleans last night. Rue de la Course is located on Magazine Street off the Garden District. A real artsy community resides in the area, but it is also a favorite location for University students.

I had been doing some basic research the last couple of days when I talked Joy into going down to Magazine Street for a cup of hot chocolate. Normally when we drive around in New Orleans, we like to take Ol'Peggy (our gold colored 1991 Buick LeSabre) because we don't care if she gets banged up a little bit. Ol'Peggy has seen many days, but she rides like a comfortable pair of shoes.

You can get one of the best cups of Joe you have ever had at Rue. New Orleans has a really strong coffee shop culture. Some of the best memories I have deal directly with my friends and I sitting around Rue and talking about nothing really for hours on end.

I took Joy on one of our first dates to Rue. It really is just a different type of atmosphere there with a really wide mix of people. Half the fun is just sitting there and watching the different types of people coming and going. I remember how Joy and I sat around one of those old wooden tables just talking and talking. Sometimes when you first go on a date with someone new, you feel compelled to keep the conversation going in hopes of finding a connection. I honestly cannot remember what we talked about, but I do remember thinking how much I hoped she would like this place as much as I did. It is funny looking back at those old dating expectations I used to dream up while trying to find 'the one.'

Last night we sat across each other drinking hot chocolate because Joy has to be careful about caffeine since she has gotten pregnant. I avoided a good cup of Joe because my days of staying up until 3 am are long gone. Yet we sat around like best friends as I read over some research papers on grounded study theory and she read some Jane Austin book that I really don't care to know anything about. We still sit around the same old wooden tables, but most of those old dating expectations are just funny memories. The best place you can find yourself is in a mutally loving God ordained relationship.

We are expecting our little girl to be born soon. One of the greatest gifts that God has ever given us is life itself. I used to wonder what I would be like as a husband. I used to wonder that exact thought many nights sitting at those old wooden tables inside of Rue. Last night I sat across Joy at one of those same tables wondering what I will be like as a father...wondering what it will be like to hold my little girl. Will she laugh at my dumb jokes? Will she sing my made up songs? and will she think that I am a cool dad?

It is not long before our little girl comes... not long at all now.

-arnold

Monster Contraction

This morning I got my first taste of a "real" contraction...and I think I scared poor Arnold to death! Probably about 5 am, I started having my normal little contractions, except they were a little painful, at least painful enough for me to not be able to go back to sleep. Then at 6:55am, I had THE monster contraction. Oh boy! If that is what it feels like, WOW! I let out a little yell and woke Arnold up. I think he thought I was having at bad dream at first. I'm not sure, but anyway, that was it! Only one! Sadness :(

Went to the doctor again though. She didn't really say anything of significance. I guess not much has changed, so once again....I just need more monster contractions!!!

Waiting

Let me say a word or two first before I get to the real stuff....
MY HUSBAND IS A GOOFBALL! I was ripping open the cereal box to get to the free children's book information on the inside of it. I have to admit though, it is pretty funny. I had no idea why he was being so sneaky at lunch, but I should have known he was up to something!

So, I know God has been trying to speak to me about the whole "waiting" thing...Waiting on the Lord's perfect timing for our little bundle of joy (and arnold ;) ) to arrive. Yesterday at church I heard an awesome sermon about not just praying that he would take away this waiting, but that he would use this seemingly idle time in our lives....and praising and thanking for him for everything that he does for us, even the small "insignificant" things. Today, I ran across an article from a blog that I'm going to post (they said to pass it along...so I don't think that constitutes thievery :) ). I hope the article will be a blessing to someone else who may be struggling with waiting, whatever your wait may be about...

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27 What are you waiting for today?
May these thoughts encourage you to make it a “Productive Delay:”

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands."
Instead of focusing on what we’re waiting to receive, let’s turn our gaze to God and ask Him to make us “a more useful tool in His redemptive hands.”

By the way, this is from the blog http://girltalk.blogs.com/ Check it out. My friend Tara told me about it. It's Christian women posting blogs, etc. Thanks Tara for the heads up!

PS- Nursery pics are under the archived September posts. Please look them up if you haven't seen them. The nursery is so pretty!

Also, Michael that guy does look like Pastor Allen. Only you would have found his twin!

Hunger Pangs

Here is a box of cereal after Joy has finished with it. Can you tell she is only one week away from giving birth?