Well I guess we're ready to let all know that we are in the process of adopting a baby! The company we are using is called Adoption Network Law Firm, based out of California. We found them on the internet and really liked what we read about them. We researched them and looked them up on the Better Business Bureau and decided to go with them. We said we would take a boy or a girl or even twins. They said the average time is 4 months. We have been very busy getting all the documents and paperwork together to show that we are qualified to become parents. We have our home study this Saturday at 5pm. After our social worker types up a summary and sends it to our adoption company, we could get that anticipated phone call any day. The company we are using features couples wanting to adopt on the internet, on 3 different web sites, and has flyers in various places such as hospitals, help centers, etc.
We are extremely excited and are patiently waiting for all to fall into place. We know God is at work in all of this and know that He already knows everything about our baby. I decided not to work this year because I knew it was time to adopt and wanted to be ready at a moments notice to be a stay at home mother. We have already bought baby furniture and have it all put together in a bedroom upstairs. Over the Christmas holidays, dad and I climbed up in his attic and found the bassinet I slept in when I was a baby, found a beautiful blanket my grandmother Warder made for me when I was a baby(in the above picture), and found some baby clothes my mother saved for me to use one day. Just recently, we went to the baby crib store (where we bought the furniture) to pick up the side rails for our baby bed (we bought the kind that can become a full size bed) and while we were there... we looked around at all the baby bedding. Well turns out... the owner of the store found out a local company, that made high end baby bedding, was going out of business and was selling all the bedding off at a great price. So... he bought all that was left and was selling it in his store. We loved a few of the bedding sets he had and knew we would never be able to find it at such a great deal, so we said "what the heck..." and bought a boy and a girl set!!! Both sets are BEAUTIFUL!! I promise to take pictures and post them on here. The boy bedding is baby blue and white colors. The fabrics are so soft, perfect for a baby. The main fabric used in the boy bedding is toile with a nursery rhyme theme. I loved it! The girl bedding is pinks and greens... with lots of chenille and floral print. It is beautiful! We didn't buy it the first time we saw it, I told Robert we should sleep on it and think about it. Well the next morning, Robert left to go buy both sets and the owner gave us an even better deal since we were buying two sets. While Robert was there, he decided to get 2 night lights that matched each set, a diaper changing pad with covers matching both bedding sets, and an extra crib sheet. He is just as excited about this baby as I am. I thought it was so sweet how excited he was about buying baby stuff. We also have purchased a car seat... red, black, and white (of course!) What other colors would a future red raider want? When we were in Dallas 3 weekends ago celebrating our 12th anniversary... we looked around at baby strollers. We found the one we want, but decided to wait until we got the baby/babies... in case we got twins. We didn't want to have to return the stroller.
When they finish making our 3 webpages that feature us, I'll post the links, so you can look at them if you want. We've been working on all this for 2 months. We found over a hundred pictures for them to use of us and sent them to them on a disc, we have written 2 different "Dear Birthmother" letters, answered a 25 questionnaire about us, and written a 3 paragraph paper on us. On top of that, we have had FBI, Texas, and Kentucky background checks... financial statements, a doctor's note stating we are mentally and physically fit to be parents, proof of income, proof of health insurance, a copy of marriage liscence sent, employment history, 4 references, copies of drivers liscence and social security cards sent, residence history typed up, and I'm sure there is something else I'm forgetting. I just found it interesting what all kinds of information they wanted and thought you might find it interesting. We also filled out a 10 page or so form for the adoption company. The mothers wanting to put their baby up for adoption have to fill out a 50 page form! I didn't realize all the paper work adopting involves! I'm glad they want to know almost everything about a couple to make sure the baby is being placed in good hands, but it is a lot of work and very time consuming. I know it will all be totally worth it, and it really wasn't that bad, just surprising. The home study is going to take around 2-3 hours and Robert and I will be interviewed together and individually. I'll let you know more about it after this weekend.
I know of quite a few couples considering adoption and wanted to share this with you, so you would have an idea of what adopting is all about. So far, it has been a fun experience. I enjoyed reflecting on and sharing my life with a possible birthmother. I am in such awe at the love it would take for a mother to put her baby's needs above her own and give her baby to another couple. I can't even imagine the kind of faith it would require to give the greatest gift of life away to another couple. What a miracle! Please keep us, the future baby, and future birthmother in your prayers. This is such an emotional and exciting time! :)
This is the dresser that came with the furniture set. I think I'm going to keep the brass bed in there since the baby room is upstairs... I want to be able to sleep in there near the baby if I need to.
This is the baby bed that can be transformed to a toddler bad and a full size bed. (The back of the crib will become the head board and the front of the crib will be the foot board.) You can see the blanket my grandmother Warder made for me draped over the front of the crib. Also in this picture is the hutch that came with the set. This will be where I'll change diapers. :)
