Going Down the Domestic Path

Surprise!! We have decided to try a Domestic Adoption.  It still feels sort of odd to tell people that we are no longer paper chasing for a China adoption.  But, after lots of research and talking to our new social worker (still miss Audrey but we do like Heidi too!) we started to feel more and more pull to the African American domestic program.  


Honestly, we never really put much thought into adopting domestically mostly because of our family size.  Then it was brought up to us and so we started asking questions, attended a couple of meetings and talked a bit with Heidi.  And we really liked what we heard, it felt, I don't know if this is the right work, comfortable.  


I think one of the biggest reasons that we are drawn to this program is because it is a chance for Brian and I to do everything together.  From paperwork to baby.  With the China program there was always the knowledge that only one of us would travel, and get to experience those first days with our new little one.  


Also, if I am being honest, I was just soooooo tired already of all the hoops that we were having to jump through for China. Hoops that have nothing NOTHING to do with our ability to raise a child.


 I don't know if this is popular opinion or not but as someone else recently said to me, "Hague, is a pain in the ass."  True that!!  For those that don't know the Hague Convention is supposed to be:  Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions.  


I don't know if it really works or not, but I will venture to say that it definitely makes things much more tedious!



We are so excited and nervous around here right now!  It's all different to us, making a profile (which is basically the story of us), complete with pictures. Hoping that a birth mom will feel a connection with us and choose us to raise her child. It's sort of unnerving to put ourselves out there like that.  I still have some skepticism that our family will be picked but I am trying to be cautiously hopeful.


OMG!  A baby!  I haven't had a baby in almost 3 years!!!  I will have to say that this is the first time that I feel like we might be getting too old for this!  


We took a trip to Babies R Us this past weekend to look around and I have to tell you we were the ONLY  people there wandering around over 30 with 6 kids.  Awkward! 


 Where is the hey my family is huge and we just keep growing but my husband gets rid of the baby stuff EVERY time store?  That's the one I need to be shopping at!!


Oh, and holy crap with the bottles....there are glass bottles and BPA free bottles, and bottles with tubes? and tomee tipee bottles and bottles that are super short and fat,  and bottles made from recycled sheep skin (ok I just made that up). I am feeling slightly out of my depth here.


I will get it all figured out though!  There is nothing this momma likes doing better than making things nice for her babies!  Unless it's Margaritas.  Keepin' it real.


'til next time,