Well, we have the crib, I'm still on the lookout for a dresser/changing table, we need to decide on a bedding set and we've gotten lots of stuff already from friends and family for the new baby.
I have the bedding narrowed down to about 7 options at this point, once we pick on we can get it ordered and decide if we are going to paint the room or not. I'm thinking we probably will. I also have picked out the car seat/travel system that I like and am still on the fence about a pack-n-play of some sort. I think we'll probably want one for when we travel and for when she is more mobile and need to confine her... but it's not at the top of my list. Oh, and we were at the new Wal-Mart the other day and saw the best thing! Instead of a normal high-chair, we're going to go with something like this...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Space-Saver-High-Chair-and-Booster-My-Little-Eye-Collection/12960801
We don't have the largest kitchen so this will be perfect and a huge space saver for us.
Our garage sale went great! We had tons of help from friends and family again and I couldn't feel more blessed for all the support we have. We raised another $800!!! And just in time too... we have a lot of things to get to be ready for baby! I am going to try and add a count-down ticker to the side somewhere... if I can get it to work. It's hard to believe that in a little over two months we could be coming home from the hospital with a new bundle of joy!
For now, we are still waiting on the tribal things to get sorted out. My social worker keeps telling me it just takes time and there is no telling exactly when they will get the all clear. As soon as they do the next step is to set up a meeting with everyone and go over the cooperative agreement and also the birthplan for the big day. In the mean time, we have started getting to know Shantel more and more. We are so blessed to have someone in our lives that wants to share SO much of this journey with us. She actually came over with her boyfriend to help out with the garage sale set-up... how cool is that!!! And, Brian and I are having them over for dinner tomorrow night. We just really want to make sure that we are all on the same page, we want to get to know her better and most of all we want her to get to know us AND know in her heart that this is truly what she wants to do.
Keep those prayers coming... they are working so far and until we have that little girl home and in our arms we are still hoping and praying that this all comes together perfectly.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Match...
Well... it's happened. We have matched with a birthmom and things couldn't be better! The last two weeks have been a whirlwind!
We met through my co-worker, her name is Shantel and she is 7 months pregnant, due November 23rd... SOON! It's a girl and everything so far is going really great! Our first meeting, while incredibly nerve-wracking was also the most joyous part of this entire experience. There we were, sitting across the booth from a wonderful young woman that wanted to help make our dreams of being a mom and a dad come true. I could cry just thinking about it.
Shantel has since met with her own counselor at our agency a few times, and the paperwork part of this whole process has been set in motion. At this point we need to wait to hear back on a couple of things, but then we actually sit down and go over things officially.
As far as we are all concerned... this is official. She likes us, or at least it seems that way! And we are already loving her and the little baby girl in her tummy. It's hard not to though. We are excited and going to slowly get started on getting the future nursery set up... heck if this all happens we only have about 9 more weeks until we bring a baby home! EEeeek!
I was able to go to her last ultrasound appointment... there are few words to describe the emotions I felt that day. It was amazing, Simply amazing! I have a pic to share... so here you go!
I couldn't have asked for a better person to have brought into our lives. I feel blessed to know Shantel and am so thankful for the experiences she has shared with me so far. I hope to have more good news to share with you all soon. For now, we are focusing on our second garage sale... lots to do and no time to do it all! Hopefully it will be even half as successful as the last one. With a baby on the way... we are saving every penny we have.
Please keep us all in your prayers. Shantel, the miracle baby girl in her tummy and Brian and I are going to need them!
We met through my co-worker, her name is Shantel and she is 7 months pregnant, due November 23rd... SOON! It's a girl and everything so far is going really great! Our first meeting, while incredibly nerve-wracking was also the most joyous part of this entire experience. There we were, sitting across the booth from a wonderful young woman that wanted to help make our dreams of being a mom and a dad come true. I could cry just thinking about it.
Shantel has since met with her own counselor at our agency a few times, and the paperwork part of this whole process has been set in motion. At this point we need to wait to hear back on a couple of things, but then we actually sit down and go over things officially.
As far as we are all concerned... this is official. She likes us, or at least it seems that way! And we are already loving her and the little baby girl in her tummy. It's hard not to though. We are excited and going to slowly get started on getting the future nursery set up... heck if this all happens we only have about 9 more weeks until we bring a baby home! EEeeek!
I was able to go to her last ultrasound appointment... there are few words to describe the emotions I felt that day. It was amazing, Simply amazing! I have a pic to share... so here you go!
I couldn't have asked for a better person to have brought into our lives. I feel blessed to know Shantel and am so thankful for the experiences she has shared with me so far. I hope to have more good news to share with you all soon. For now, we are focusing on our second garage sale... lots to do and no time to do it all! Hopefully it will be even half as successful as the last one. With a baby on the way... we are saving every penny we have.
Please keep us all in your prayers. Shantel, the miracle baby girl in her tummy and Brian and I are going to need them!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Long time - no update....
Well, I think it's about time I update this blog. I had kind of put it on hold for a bit while we were talking with an expectant mom, I really wanted to update with wonderful news about a perfect match. But I'll get you caught up on where we are at for the moment.
We were contacted by a young mom-to-be at the end of July, almost a month ago actually. Her mom had gotten one of our adoption cards from a friend. So the great news so far, our adoption cards did work! So we have been talking to her on and off over the last month, we actually had a date picked out to meet up near her home town. Things didn't work out like we had hoped, but I completely understand her hesitation. She is going through something so much bigger than any person should have to deal with, especially at her young age. It breaks my heart that she is dealing with all this right now. She just asked for more time to think, understandably so. I know that no matter what she chooses to do, things are going to work out the way they are meant to. You can't force anything in life to work they way you want it to... it will just backfire on you in the end. I'm happy to take the back seat on this one and let the big guy up stairs do all the driving! HE knows the way through all this and I trust Him enough to let my faith lead the way.
So, I'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more from her. As of right now, I got her in touch with one of the counselors through our agency. I really hope she is finding the guidance she needs to make the choice that is right for herself AND this precious little baby that will be here in 4 short months. I know for me, no matter what happens, I haven't stopped praying that things will work out for this young girl and her baby. She deserves to find peace in whatever decision she makes.
As for the rest of our adoption journey, we were invited to enter the Waiting Family Book... however we postponed. I know it might seem like a long shot to most of you. BUT, to enter the book would cost us $5,000. That's a lot of money and I feel like we haven't even gotten our cards out there yet. And if the cards worked from just our garage sale and handing them out to some family and friends, just think about how the cards might work if we got them out there to the right crowd. So for now, we are back at the end of the waiting list. We were 16th on the list when I moved us back there, so in theory we'll be getting a call/email about the book again in a couple of months. It just depends on how quickly there are placements from the book/outreach. In the mean time, we are working with a wonderful friend of ours to make our profile perfect. When we get the invite again, we'll see where we are at with things and make a decision at that time. I hate to put it off, but the idea of saving that chunk of money is very appealing. Just think about how many diapers and how much formula we could buy with $5,000!
So, we are placing an order for more adoption cards. We are going to be sending out a mailer with cards to pretty much ALL of our family and friends (if I don't have your address and you'd like to help us out by handing out a few of our cards, please email me your address!). Also, we are having a second garage sale on September 16-18th! It will be at our house this time around. And we are spreading the word for more sale items too! Clean out your closets!!!
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things. I'll be sure to keep this blog more up to date. But like I said, I was hoping to post about a wonderful match-meeting. I know someday soon, I will be able to do that. I am just trying to enjoy each step of this process and not stress or worry too much about anything. It's hard... the not knowing and the no control part of it all. It's teaching me a lot about myself but I know by the end of it... it will be worth it!
We were contacted by a young mom-to-be at the end of July, almost a month ago actually. Her mom had gotten one of our adoption cards from a friend. So the great news so far, our adoption cards did work! So we have been talking to her on and off over the last month, we actually had a date picked out to meet up near her home town. Things didn't work out like we had hoped, but I completely understand her hesitation. She is going through something so much bigger than any person should have to deal with, especially at her young age. It breaks my heart that she is dealing with all this right now. She just asked for more time to think, understandably so. I know that no matter what she chooses to do, things are going to work out the way they are meant to. You can't force anything in life to work they way you want it to... it will just backfire on you in the end. I'm happy to take the back seat on this one and let the big guy up stairs do all the driving! HE knows the way through all this and I trust Him enough to let my faith lead the way.
So, I'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more from her. As of right now, I got her in touch with one of the counselors through our agency. I really hope she is finding the guidance she needs to make the choice that is right for herself AND this precious little baby that will be here in 4 short months. I know for me, no matter what happens, I haven't stopped praying that things will work out for this young girl and her baby. She deserves to find peace in whatever decision she makes.
As for the rest of our adoption journey, we were invited to enter the Waiting Family Book... however we postponed. I know it might seem like a long shot to most of you. BUT, to enter the book would cost us $5,000. That's a lot of money and I feel like we haven't even gotten our cards out there yet. And if the cards worked from just our garage sale and handing them out to some family and friends, just think about how the cards might work if we got them out there to the right crowd. So for now, we are back at the end of the waiting list. We were 16th on the list when I moved us back there, so in theory we'll be getting a call/email about the book again in a couple of months. It just depends on how quickly there are placements from the book/outreach. In the mean time, we are working with a wonderful friend of ours to make our profile perfect. When we get the invite again, we'll see where we are at with things and make a decision at that time. I hate to put it off, but the idea of saving that chunk of money is very appealing. Just think about how many diapers and how much formula we could buy with $5,000!
So, we are placing an order for more adoption cards. We are going to be sending out a mailer with cards to pretty much ALL of our family and friends (if I don't have your address and you'd like to help us out by handing out a few of our cards, please email me your address!). Also, we are having a second garage sale on September 16-18th! It will be at our house this time around. And we are spreading the word for more sale items too! Clean out your closets!!!
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things. I'll be sure to keep this blog more up to date. But like I said, I was hoping to post about a wonderful match-meeting. I know someday soon, I will be able to do that. I am just trying to enjoy each step of this process and not stress or worry too much about anything. It's hard... the not knowing and the no control part of it all. It's teaching me a lot about myself but I know by the end of it... it will be worth it!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Getting there!
Our profile is in the process of being put together, thanks in HUGE part to my good friend JoAnn. She is using her digital scrap booking expertise to help us create a stand-out profile that will no doubt bring us that much closer to our match. I'm excited to see what she comes up with. I'll be sure to keep you all posted on how things turn out.
Brian and I have also discussed our second garage sale some more. We have decided to have this one at our house. While the offer still stands at a couple of our friends houses, I think overall it will be less stressful for me this time around. The date is still up in the air. We are leaning towards waiting until September. Our August is pretty busy and with working on the profile so much I just really don't think it's a good idea to put too much on our plate. In the mean time, we are still looking for items to add to our growing pile. We could really use some more kids stuff this time around, but really any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.
Also, I just want to remind everyone that while we are very excited about entering the book and increasing our chances that much more of find our match, we are still actively looking for our own match. You can all help by spreading the word and keeping us in your thoughts. We will be ordering more of our adoption cards soon, and if you are interested I can definitely get you some to have on hand.
Brian and I have also discussed our second garage sale some more. We have decided to have this one at our house. While the offer still stands at a couple of our friends houses, I think overall it will be less stressful for me this time around. The date is still up in the air. We are leaning towards waiting until September. Our August is pretty busy and with working on the profile so much I just really don't think it's a good idea to put too much on our plate. In the mean time, we are still looking for items to add to our growing pile. We could really use some more kids stuff this time around, but really any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.
Also, I just want to remind everyone that while we are very excited about entering the book and increasing our chances that much more of find our match, we are still actively looking for our own match. You can all help by spreading the word and keeping us in your thoughts. We will be ordering more of our adoption cards soon, and if you are interested I can definitely get you some to have on hand.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Waiting Family Book
Well, we're in!!! They contacted us a few days ago saying we have gone from 10th in line to 1st! They will need our profile no later than August 25th, if they receive it later than that we get bumped back to the end of the list. I'm a nervous wreck! We have lots to do yet to get it completed. How do you write about yourself in a way that conveys exactly who you are? So much so that they would choose US to parent their child? And all in six short pages?!?!
I'm going to put out one last plea for any pictures you might have of Brian and I or just one of us or us with your family or children. The more options I have the less stressed out I think I will be.
I just pray, however our profile turns out, that someone sees it and wants to meet us very soon. It's crazy to think that in a little over a month, our profile will be seen across the state by who knows how many people. One of them could be our future child's birthmother.
I'll post a copy of our final product here when we get it completed. I am hoping to get a facebook page up and running as well, we want to have another garage sale sometime in August AND I have another fundraiser I want to throw out there too. My life this summer is nothing short of crazy!
I'm going to put out one last plea for any pictures you might have of Brian and I or just one of us or us with your family or children. The more options I have the less stressed out I think I will be.
I just pray, however our profile turns out, that someone sees it and wants to meet us very soon. It's crazy to think that in a little over a month, our profile will be seen across the state by who knows how many people. One of them could be our future child's birthmother.
I'll post a copy of our final product here when we get it completed. I am hoping to get a facebook page up and running as well, we want to have another garage sale sometime in August AND I have another fundraiser I want to throw out there too. My life this summer is nothing short of crazy!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Another way I'm trying to keep track of our adoption efforts for everyone!!! Unfortunately I can't update the information with what has been donated so far... so it looks like we are starting from scratch. I'll still keep the on-going tally up top, but we'll be using this "Chip-in" widget in the future for people to donate for another fundraiser idea I have to get off the ground.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Garage Sale Update... FINALLY!
Well, it sure did take me long enough! My life feels like a whirl-wind. I finished up the garage sale, jumped right back into work, continued sorting out garage sale stuff, was pet-sitting for a friend, then had a volunteer commitment last weekend, and NOW.... I'm finally relaxing. Almost forced to actually. Apparently, at some point while working on the garage sale I re-injured my back. I have been seeing a chiropractor since last Friday and we are still trying to sort things out. I am very sore and after about 30 minutes of any kind of activity, it really starts flaring up.
Anyway, back to business! The garage sale went great! The week before was filled with errands, set up and pricing. Then Thursday morning rolled around (after two hours of sleep!) and we were open for business. We had a great big banner hanging up explaining what the sale was for, we handed out about 300 of our business cards to people, and sold lots of stuff/food too! All in all, people were very receptive to what we were there for. At the checkout we'd hand people our card with their change and explain more about what we were trying to do, and 9 times out a 10 the person would wish us luck or tell us an adoption story that they knew of. It was very cool to see people in our own community wanting to help out and wishing us the best on our journey.
What absolutely amazed me most were the little kids. We had some of the cutest neighborhood kids coming over and getting lunch and shopping our toys area. Each time they'd make a donation on top of what they paid for their new treasure. We even had a couple of young boys, probably around 10, that stopped by to shop the "free box" at the end of the driveway. They found some items and then both walked up to one of the donation jars we had out and shoved a couple of crumpled up ones in there and took one of our cards. Amazing!
I also can't say enough about the help we had. It was definitely a LONG few days and I couldn't have imagined doing it without the support of the family and friends that jumped right in. We had TONS of stuff... and TONS is not an exaggeration. We even had stuff still sitting inside not priced because there was no room to put it out. We eventually were able to price stuff throughout the day and get it out on the tables... but seriously, it was a LOT of stuff. By the time Saturday rolled around we started looking like what a "normal" garage sale would look like.
When it was all said in done, Saturday night we were able to sort through everything that was left, figure out what we wanted to hold onto for our next sale (yes we're doing it all again!), and brought a few truck loads of stuff to a local charity. We already have a small pile of things for the next sale started in our basement. So, if you didn't get a chance to go through your closets or attic, start sorting. I'm hoping that by the end of August, beginning of September we'll be able to do it all again and hopefully raise some more money and awareness to our mission.
Oh and I guess you'd like to know the money stuff too! Well it was a great turn out and when it was all done we had raised a little over $1,700!!!!! While it's a fraction of what we will need, it's definitely not bad for a week of work.
Other than garage sale stuff, there is not much else to report. We are working on trying to get a facebook page up and getting our profile ready for THE BOOK. We're still on the waiting list to get in it, but hope to get a call in the coming months. Better yet, we hope to get a call and a match long before we have to enter into the book!
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. If you are interested, let me know and I'll get you some of our cards. We are very open to many different situations so please keep us in mind if you hear of anything. And of course, thank you all again for reading the blog, for supporting our efforts and for helping us get one step closer to parenthood!
Anyway, back to business! The garage sale went great! The week before was filled with errands, set up and pricing. Then Thursday morning rolled around (after two hours of sleep!) and we were open for business. We had a great big banner hanging up explaining what the sale was for, we handed out about 300 of our business cards to people, and sold lots of stuff/food too! All in all, people were very receptive to what we were there for. At the checkout we'd hand people our card with their change and explain more about what we were trying to do, and 9 times out a 10 the person would wish us luck or tell us an adoption story that they knew of. It was very cool to see people in our own community wanting to help out and wishing us the best on our journey.
What absolutely amazed me most were the little kids. We had some of the cutest neighborhood kids coming over and getting lunch and shopping our toys area. Each time they'd make a donation on top of what they paid for their new treasure. We even had a couple of young boys, probably around 10, that stopped by to shop the "free box" at the end of the driveway. They found some items and then both walked up to one of the donation jars we had out and shoved a couple of crumpled up ones in there and took one of our cards. Amazing!
I also can't say enough about the help we had. It was definitely a LONG few days and I couldn't have imagined doing it without the support of the family and friends that jumped right in. We had TONS of stuff... and TONS is not an exaggeration. We even had stuff still sitting inside not priced because there was no room to put it out. We eventually were able to price stuff throughout the day and get it out on the tables... but seriously, it was a LOT of stuff. By the time Saturday rolled around we started looking like what a "normal" garage sale would look like.
When it was all said in done, Saturday night we were able to sort through everything that was left, figure out what we wanted to hold onto for our next sale (yes we're doing it all again!), and brought a few truck loads of stuff to a local charity. We already have a small pile of things for the next sale started in our basement. So, if you didn't get a chance to go through your closets or attic, start sorting. I'm hoping that by the end of August, beginning of September we'll be able to do it all again and hopefully raise some more money and awareness to our mission.
Oh and I guess you'd like to know the money stuff too! Well it was a great turn out and when it was all done we had raised a little over $1,700!!!!! While it's a fraction of what we will need, it's definitely not bad for a week of work.
Other than garage sale stuff, there is not much else to report. We are working on trying to get a facebook page up and getting our profile ready for THE BOOK. We're still on the waiting list to get in it, but hope to get a call in the coming months. Better yet, we hope to get a call and a match long before we have to enter into the book!
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. If you are interested, let me know and I'll get you some of our cards. We are very open to many different situations so please keep us in mind if you hear of anything. And of course, thank you all again for reading the blog, for supporting our efforts and for helping us get one step closer to parenthood!
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