It has been one year (yes, one.whole.year.) since we decided that we would love to build our family through adoption. One year, indeed. In adoption terms, I can't say that the year has been especially easy and I can't say that it's been especially hard. I don't really know how to classify the last year.
In the last year, we decided on adoption. We researched agencies and got really excited when I thought we found one. We started with that agency only to find out it wasn't the right one. We began the application process over again and have found the agency we love. I feel that in my heart this is the one for us and we will eventually meet our baby through them.
In the last year, we have learned more about ourselves than I think even we cared to know, thanks to our little "frenemy" we like to refer to as the homestudy. While the homestudy appears to be the most wretched thing, it really wasn't all that bad....just "intrusive" I guess. But, that is fine, because I want our agency to know that we are good people and that we have absolutely nothing to hide.
In the last year, I have had my fair share of baby envy. There is absolutely nothing in the world I can do to make that go away. Until I have my baby and know what it's like to have my very own baby (and I will someday!), I will be envious of those who know what that feels like. Please don't confuse this with "pregnancy envy". Totally different.
In the last year, I made 5 profile books and to date, not a single one of them have been shown. I think this is pretty typical, since they have only been done and officially ready for about 3 months.
In the last year, I have gained a nephew that I get to love on very often. I think this baby has made this last year not seem so long.
In the last year, I have told one million people that we are waiting to adopt. Ok, ok, not one million, but a lot! I would never hide the fact that we want to add to our family by adoption. I am very excited to tell our story and what we have been through so far and what we look forward to happening. Of course our family and friends know we are waiting, but I have also shared it with patients at work, the mail-lady, even several car salesmen we dealt with when buying our new car! I love to answer questions and love to share our story in hopes that it will shed light on adoption, because a lot of people are clueless to it....and that's ok!
In the last year, I have looked for blogs, books, and magazines to read regarding adoption. A lot of the blogs I have found are for international adoption, or are very religious adoption blogs. While I think both are great, I am looking for one that is similar to our situation....a couple waiting on a domestic infant adoption. They have to be out there somewhere! :) If you know of a blog anything like that, please let me know. It feels great to relate to someone going through a similar situation.
In the last year, I have thought about who our baby's birth parents would be. Teenage high school students, wanting to go to college? Young adult parents just not quite ready to be parents? Someone battling an illness with drugs/alcohol who want a better life for their baby? No matter what walk of life they come from, our baby will always know that their birth parents loved them and made the hardest decision of their lives to allow us to love them also and be their parents.
In the last year, I have answered many adoption questions for Grace....or tried to anyway. She wants to know a lot of the same questions I do, but have no answers for! Where will the baby come from? How long will we have to wait? Will we get to meet the baby's parents? Do I think they will look like us at all? (And for the record, my good friend adopted and their now-3-year-old baby looks just like them!). You better believe as soon as we have any of these answers, Grace will be the first to know!
What have you done in the last year?!
