Adoption Update | Winter

As I mentioned back in this June blog post,  I'm making a more concerted effort this time around to document the adoption process--not only for me (I enjoy rereading old posts from time-to-time), but also for people who might be interested in learning about how private domestic adoption works.

Here's what I've done since the last update in September:

 COMPLETED:

• UPGRADED to a paying subscription on Adoptimist. (Adoptimist is no longer offering free profiles.)  

• MAILED out more pass-along cards to friends. (Thanks to those of you who requested them!)

• SHARED with our priest that we're looking to adopt after a fellow parishioner mentioned to me that there was a woman in the church considering adoption. 

• ANSWERED questions from friends and acquaintances and friends-of-friends who are interested in pursuing domestic adoption. (I'm always willing to share what I know with others who are thinking about adoption or want some advice about how to navigate the process. If you have questions, email me at: brianandjennieadopt@gmail.com.)

• PAINTED the nursery walls gray. I can't take any credit--it was all Brian! (Thanks, Babe!)

CURRENTLY: 

• WORKING with a videographer to create a 3-minute video about us and why we want to adopt again. To be honest, I'd much rather be behind the camera than in front of it, but I see the value in a birth mother or birth parents being able to view us on screen and hear us tell our story. (When the video is completed--hopefully in the next few weeks--I'll be sharing it here on my blog as well as on YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook.) 

• UPDATING our Adoptimist profile weekly with diary entries and new photos.  

•  DECORATING the nursery. I know some of you might be thinking, But wait, you haven't adopted the baby yet. You haven't even matched yet. I totally hear you. My husband thinks I'm a little nuts, too. Smile. But I just know in my heart that it will happen. And right now, decorating the nursery is helping me to prepare for our daughter's arrival--whenever and however that may come. Even though I've never met her, with each purchase I make, with each picture frame I set up, with each outfit I hang up in the closet, she's growing more and more in my heart.

THANK YOU all for your continued support of our dream to adopt a baby girl. Truly!

On days when I'm feeling slightly discouraged, I pull out the pages of supportive and loving Facebook comments you left for me back in early June--when I first announced our desire to adopt again--and I re-read every. single. kind. word. 

Your thoughtful and sweet comments always bring a smile to my face, and remind me how many people are praying for us and supporting us and pulling for us and loving us through this process.

I think Paul Coelho had it right when he wrote: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."

Huge hugs,

Adoption Update | Late Summer

As I mentioned in this June blog post,  I'm making a more concerted effort to document the adoption process this time around--not only for me (I enjoy rereading old posts from time-to-time), but also for people who might be interested in learning about how private domestic adoption works.

Here's what I've done since the last update:

COMPLETED:

• OUR ADOPTION WEBSITE

• CREATED AN ADOPTIMIST PROFILE | Recently, our attorney told us about Adoptimist. She said several of her clients have connected with prospective birth parents, thanks to Adoptimist. I created a free profile for now and may upgrade to a paying subscription in the future.   

• ORDERED PASS ALONG CARDS

• SHARED PASS ALONG CARDS | A big thanks to those of you who have requested cards. I thought we might have one or two people ask...but so far, 15 of you (awesome folks that you are!) have requested cards. Even a few college students are posting them on their campus bulletin boards--thank you, thank you, thank you!

• PURCHASED A FACEBOOK TIMELINE TEMPLATE | The Facebook timeline, pictured at the top of this post, is available from this Etsy seller. (All photos in the timeline were taken by Mindy Newton of Mindy Newton Photography.)

And here's what I want to do going forward:

STILL TO DO:

• PREPARE THE NURSERY | I'm fairly certain that we're going to keep all of the existing nursery furniture (crib, rocker, changing table), but I'd like to repaint the walls, change the bedding and drapes, and display some new art. Oh, and hang a few pom poms from the ceiling. I adore them!

• SHARE | Continue to tell others about our adoption dreams, both in person and online.

• PRAY | We've been praying for a baby girl since we started the process, but we'll continue to pray and hope and wish and plan (reminds me of that Wishing and Hoping song in "My Best Friend's Wedding") until our daughter joins our family.

I also have a few adoption-related stories to tell you, but I'll save them for a separate post--coming soon!