ParentProfiles.com

Fall is here so we've been getting out the decorations, visiting pumpkin patches, and getting ready for Halloween. Maddie is going to be a kangaroo this year and she is VERY excited. Whenever we mention the words "kangaroo" or "halloween costume" she starts bouncing up and down.

Last week we had a photographer friend take some pictures of us up in the canyon. The scenery was so pretty, but Maddie decided she was going to be shy so the only thing that made her smile was a rubber chicken! Our friend took a picture of Madison hugging the chicken like it was her best friend. It actually turned out really cute.

We’ve been VERY BUSY the past couple of months! Three significant events include attending a Families Supporting Adoption Conference at the end of July, having another surgery for my endometriosis in August, and celebrating Madison’s 2nd birthday in September. I’ll comment on each:

ADOPTION CONFERENCE: It was great- very inspiring and educational! Last year I went alone and this year Jared came with me. This conference was open to anyone touched by adoption or anyone interested in learning more about adoption: adoption professionals, hopeful adoptive couples, those who have been adopted, and birthparents who have placed a child or who are considering placing a child for adoption. Jared and I listened to a couple of panels where birthparents spoke and we were in awe. I’m not much of a touchy/feely person with other adults but I seriously wanted to go up to each of the birthmothers afterwards and give them a hug and tell them how awesome they were!

I also got up the courage to say “hi” to Mrs. R at the conference. She is like the “Oprah” of the Adoption Community, is an adoptive mother and huge adoption advocate, and she has a very informative adoption blog.

FOR ANY PROSPECTIVE BIRTHPARENTS READING THIS, e-mail me and I can give you the address of mrs. r's blog as well as a couple other links that may be helpful to you or your family members.

SURGERY: I had laparoscopic surgery again (my second in 3 years) to remove some cysts on my ovaries due to endometriosis. Yes, my endometriosis is the reason we haven’t been able to get pregnant in nine years of marriage.
The good news is that the surgery went well thanks to an awesome doctor who was able to remove a lot of growths. The hardest part of my recovery was not being able to lift more than 10 pounds for 2 weeks, but Madison was very understanding of my “owies”. It also helped tremendously that my mom came up and stayed for a couple of days. Maddie & grandma are great friends so they enjoyed hanging out together.

MADDIE’S BIRTHDAY: The night of Madison’s 2nd Birthday Jared and I took her to Chuck E. Cheese.
Then that weekend she had a party with some cousins that consisted of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, Bingo, cupcake decorating, a pinata, and swimming in a kiddie pool and running through the sprinklers. The water was definitely Maddie’s favorite part of her party- she loved splashing around in the pool!

We are in our ninth month of waiting to adopt since our home study has been approved. I hope we don’t have to wait another nine months, but I’m also trying to remember that the RIGHT BABY will come to us at THE RIGHT TIME!

We just updated our Profile with pictures from our latest family vacation to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone. Jared's family rented a cabin in Idaho and we stayed there for five days. It was A LOT of fun and my only complaint is that we didn't see one single bear in any of the parks!

We've made it through another trimester of waiting and I can "feel" that there is a birth mother and a baby out there for us.

Hope you find us soon!

We've made it through our "first trimester" of waiting! That's the funny thing about expecting a baby when we're not the ones actually going through a pregnancy: Since we don't have a due date to look forward to, there's no knowing when our baby will arrive! Despite the uncertainty, we feel it's best to be prepared.

Our crib and nursery are decorated in a Noah's Ark theme which is neutral enough to be used for a boy or a girl. Madison's "big girl bed" and room are down the hall from the nursery. It's been fun speculating about the sex of our next baby. Sometimes we think it would be fun to have another girl so that we could have two girls close in age. Then again, we can already predict at a year and a half old that Maddie would be a good "Little Mother" to a baby brother. But either way- boy or girl- we are looking forward to another addition to our family!

Yesterday the weather was super nice, so we took a walk to the park. Maddie started out in the stroller, but by the time we got to the park she insisted on walking just like the rest of us. Jared held on tight to her little hand and tried to keep up with her while I pushed the empty stroller along. We're very much looking forward to nicer weather ahead which means more walks to the park, playing outside on the swing set & slide, picnics and barbecues, perhaps a few hikes, and definitely a trip to the zoo!

SOME THOUGHTS FOR OUR BABY'S BIRTHMOTHER:

It's only been a couple of months since our Home Study has been approved and we've been spreading the word to as many people as possible that we want to adopt again. When I start to get impatient about WHEN our baby will be here or HOW LONG we have to wait I need to remind myself that it is only because of the love and selflessness of a birthmother out there that is making it possible for us to add to our family.

So, here's what I wish for our baby's birthmother:
- I wish I could wrap my arms around her and give her a big hug and let her know HOW MUCH SHE IS LOVED!
- I wish I could give her a "day off" of any morning sickness she might be having.
-I wish I could give her a foot massage if her feet and ankles start to swell up from too much water retention. (I've never been pregnant but I have four older sisters and have seen what comes along with pregnancy!)
- I wish I could erase any heartache she might be feeling- especially with Valentine's Day (AKA "Singleness Awareness Day" coming up!) I can't imagine what it would be like to be in her situation.
- I wish her as much SUPPORT as possible- whether it be from family members, good friends, religious leaders, or whomever she can trust.
- I wish that she has some good laughs. Life is full of heartaches, but it can also be full of humor and joy.
-Most of all I wish her HOPE: Hope in herself, and hope in her baby's future. (And I'm hoping for more patience as we wait to find her!)

Today our adoption agency approved our Home Study- Yippee! We're glad we got all of the paperwork done before the holidays. Now we just have to WAIT and PRAY.

We've been busy getting all of our paperwork together and can't wait for our Home Study to be approved so that we can start the search for our baby's birthmother!