We celebrated Winter Solstice with the J's.
We spent Christmas Eve with the G's.
We spent Christmas Day with the L's.
We are very lucky to be near all of our family and see them often!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Holidays 2011
As always, we enjoyed spending time with our family this year. We just completed our adoption paperwork and were able to relax.
We celebrated Winter Solstice with the J's.
We spent Christmas Eve with the G's.
We spent Christmas Day with the L's.
We are very lucky to be near all of our family and see them often!
We celebrated Winter Solstice with the J's.
We spent Christmas Eve with the G's.
We spent Christmas Day with the L's.
We are very lucky to be near all of our family and see them often!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Happy Adoption!
SML and I exchanged gifts in celebration of completing our adoption paperwork and getting on the books!
I bought her Shel Silverstein's unpublished collection of poems to read to our child. She bought me UNC baby gear! Just adorable. Can you tell we have the itch to start preparing for baby?!
I bought her Shel Silverstein's unpublished collection of poems to read to our child. She bought me UNC baby gear! Just adorable. Can you tell we have the itch to start preparing for baby?!
Friday, December 9, 2011
On the books!!
We finally made it...we are on the books!!! Our paperwork is in and filed; our birthmother letter is complete, printed, and at the agency; and our contact info is green to go!
We are so very thrilled to not only be done with this step of the process, but to be on the waiting list and find our match! A year ago we were dreaming of starting our family and hopefully around this time next year we will be welcoming a new member to the family!
We are so very thrilled to not only be done with this step of the process, but to be on the waiting list and find our match! A year ago we were dreaming of starting our family and hopefully around this time next year we will be welcoming a new member to the family!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
A signing party
We received our birthmother letters the other day and had a signing party, where we signed all 105 by hand to be sent to the agency.
We have lots of extras if you are interested in keeping a few on hand incase of networking matches! Let us know if you would like us to send you some. Our journey of being matched with a birthmom/dad can happen through our friends of friends/family.
We have lots of extras if you are interested in keeping a few on hand incase of networking matches! Let us know if you would like us to send you some. Our journey of being matched with a birthmom/dad can happen through our friends of friends/family.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Updates
Sorry it's been a while since our last update, but we've been busy with work/school and putting finishing touches on our Birthmother letter. We've been enjoying the fall weather and trying to spend a little time together.
We've also been playing email and phone tag with our agency perfecting our letter. We finally finished the design and have sent in a print order. We are awaiting the arrival of our proof, which was mailed to us today. When the agency approves our proof, we can confirm our order and .... WE'LL BE ON THE BOOKS!!!
We are very excited to be so close to the finish! We've been having a little fun window shopping at baby stores; a little overwhelmed with all of the products available, but excited to play with items.
The cloth diaper seminar we signed up for last week was canceled, but we were able to have a "private" session. We learned all about cloth diapering and got to play with different brands and styles. We decided on a few brands to use, two for nights and one for day time. The really neat thing about the day time one is it's a hybrid diaper, which means that it has the ability to have cloth inserts or biodegradable inserts (great for traveling or grandparents who may find the true cloth diapers too complicated). :)
I love how easy it will be to live green, even with a baby.
We've also been playing email and phone tag with our agency perfecting our letter. We finally finished the design and have sent in a print order. We are awaiting the arrival of our proof, which was mailed to us today. When the agency approves our proof, we can confirm our order and .... WE'LL BE ON THE BOOKS!!!
We are very excited to be so close to the finish! We've been having a little fun window shopping at baby stores; a little overwhelmed with all of the products available, but excited to play with items.
The cloth diaper seminar we signed up for last week was canceled, but we were able to have a "private" session. We learned all about cloth diapering and got to play with different brands and styles. We decided on a few brands to use, two for nights and one for day time. The really neat thing about the day time one is it's a hybrid diaper, which means that it has the ability to have cloth inserts or biodegradable inserts (great for traveling or grandparents who may find the true cloth diapers too complicated). :)
I love how easy it will be to live green, even with a baby.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Home study approved!
Sorry it has been a while since our last post, but we have been busy playing email tag with our agency, trying to finalize our home study and birthmother letter.
Good news - our home study has been approved!
We are still waiting on feedback re: finishing touches to our birthmother letter...hopefully it'll be approved within the next few days and we can print.
Our facebook page is up and running...please visit and "like" it to attract attention. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.290362797643978.85350.290319954314929&type=3&saved#!/pages/Natasha-Shelley-Adopt/290319954314929
Good news - our home study has been approved!
We are still waiting on feedback re: finishing touches to our birthmother letter...hopefully it'll be approved within the next few days and we can print.
Our facebook page is up and running...please visit and "like" it to attract attention. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.290362797643978.85350.290319954314929&type=3&saved#!/pages/Natasha-Shelley-Adopt/290319954314929
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Approaching the finish line
We completed our third homestudy visit this past Wednesday evening. It was smooth sailing even though this last visit seemed more like a job interview than a homestudy. We are just awaiting the final write up now.
We also received approval on our Birthmother letter and ha ve started the design process - formating the text and pictures with color and layout schemes. It's a little nerve-racking since this will be our first impression to birthparents!
We are quickly approaching the finish line and are even more giddy about it all!
We also received approval on our Birthmother letter and ha ve started the design process - formating the text and pictures with color and layout schemes. It's a little nerve-racking since this will be our first impression to birthparents!
We are quickly approaching the finish line and are even more giddy about it all!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Home visit
We received our FBI clearance last week! Phew - so worried about that ;)
After 2 shifts and staying up most of the day yesterday to clean the house, KF, our assigned Social Worker, came over last night for homestudy #2. It went very smoothly. We gave her the tour and sat back to discuss "us." She was very personable and even laughed at our stories.
We have visit 3 of 3 for our homestudy next Wednesday evening at the office.
After 2 shifts and staying up most of the day yesterday to clean the house, KF, our assigned Social Worker, came over last night for homestudy #2. It went very smoothly. We gave her the tour and sat back to discuss "us." She was very personable and even laughed at our stories.
We have visit 3 of 3 for our homestudy next Wednesday evening at the office.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Just want to set it straight...
Adoption, whether international or domestic, private or open, is not "saving" a child. It is opening up your home to a child, who you will love as if you birthed he or she, and providing better opportunities and education for your child.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Read all about it!
Lots of exciting news!!!
After two months since attending our weekend intensive class, we have finished our paperwork! We have sent in the first draft to our Dear Birthmother Letter and are awaiting a response on that; there's normally 3-5 drafts before our proof can be designed and printed. We sent in a link to all of the pictures we would like to have authorized for our letter and website. Once our FBI clearance comes back, which should be soon, we can have home study #2 of 3 completed!
We recently received our photo shoot CD and have been oohing and awwing over the pictures! Some of our favorites are below.
On a side note, SML starts nursing school semester 2 of 6 today! Good luck baby!
After two months since attending our weekend intensive class, we have finished our paperwork! We have sent in the first draft to our Dear Birthmother Letter and are awaiting a response on that; there's normally 3-5 drafts before our proof can be designed and printed. We sent in a link to all of the pictures we would like to have authorized for our letter and website. Once our FBI clearance comes back, which should be soon, we can have home study #2 of 3 completed!
We recently received our photo shoot CD and have been oohing and awwing over the pictures! Some of our favorites are below.
On a side note, SML starts nursing school semester 2 of 6 today! Good luck baby!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Showing off
Finally, after three years since I traveled to Guatemala and found beautiful artwork, we had it professionally framed. We are hanging it in the guest/child's bathroom and the nursery.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Transracial adoption story
Since transracial adoption is something we are very open to, I found this necessary to post. I came across this story/article recently and found this interesting and disturbing at the same time.
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/136208967/transracial-adoptions-raise-parenting-dilemmas#commentBlock
It addresses how to parent transracially adopted children and how they identify in society. My main issue with this is why does everything have to be white OR black?
Why can't we celebrate our differences and uniquenesses? Why can't we just parent children (white, black, brown, yellow, blue) with love and honesty?
Regardless of color of skin, even though it is a matter of fact and should be openly discussed, we should parent the best we can - love, be honest, educate and expose our children to the world.
Colorblindness is not the answer on how to parent transracial children, however color should not be the focus of the family, nor how the family is defined. Multiracial families are all unique and will handle issues differently. If we parent wholeheartedly, we will hopefully produce young adults ready for the world and be a step closer to a more accepting culture.
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/136208967/transracial-adoptions-raise-parenting-dilemmas#commentBlock
It addresses how to parent transracially adopted children and how they identify in society. My main issue with this is why does everything have to be white OR black?
Why can't we celebrate our differences and uniquenesses? Why can't we just parent children (white, black, brown, yellow, blue) with love and honesty?
Regardless of color of skin, even though it is a matter of fact and should be openly discussed, we should parent the best we can - love, be honest, educate and expose our children to the world.
Colorblindness is not the answer on how to parent transracial children, however color should not be the focus of the family, nor how the family is defined. Multiracial families are all unique and will handle issues differently. If we parent wholeheartedly, we will hopefully produce young adults ready for the world and be a step closer to a more accepting culture.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Some progress
We are trucking along with the paperwork...we've received and sent in to IAC our driving records, local background checks, a gun safety form, and multiple other signed forms. We are starting to tackle the questionnaires that require paragraph answers and our autobiography....which translates to "a lengthy, wordy process."
We attended an Enrichment Session yesterday on adopting transracially - it was very interesting and opened up some of the ways we think and made us consider things we didn't know we should. We've always said that we want to adopt a child of a race outside of ours, but now that it is truly a possibility, we are approaching the concept differently. We are still trying to decide how comfortable we feel with adopting multiple racial combinations. We have to consider all of this since our profile form requires check-offs for each possible racial combination, which determines who our Dear Birthmother Letters go out to. Let's just say that we've had many conversations on how we will enrich the life of our children, regardless of race.
After hearing about three couples' experiences with transracial adoption, the topic turned to hair. We learned that hair is very important and a huge topic among parents with transracial children, especially in the African American culture. It takes education and trialing to get it right, and when you think you've mastered it, the texture changes and you start all over. It was a little intimidating to think that that much time and energy goes into this topic....HAIR!
Haven already seen Good Hair (2009) with Chris Rock and knowing what some African American women do for good hair, it was relieving to hear that it can be approached from an organic and natural way. :)
In case you're interested: a few books that have been recommended or that I came across on transracial adoption include:
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
In Their Siblings' Voices: White Non-Adopted Siblings Talk About Their Experiences Being Raised with Black and Biracial Brothers & Sisters by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
In Their Parents' Voices: Reflections on Raising Transracial Adoptees by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other by Scott Simon
Back to the paperwork!
We attended an Enrichment Session yesterday on adopting transracially - it was very interesting and opened up some of the ways we think and made us consider things we didn't know we should. We've always said that we want to adopt a child of a race outside of ours, but now that it is truly a possibility, we are approaching the concept differently. We are still trying to decide how comfortable we feel with adopting multiple racial combinations. We have to consider all of this since our profile form requires check-offs for each possible racial combination, which determines who our Dear Birthmother Letters go out to. Let's just say that we've had many conversations on how we will enrich the life of our children, regardless of race.
After hearing about three couples' experiences with transracial adoption, the topic turned to hair. We learned that hair is very important and a huge topic among parents with transracial children, especially in the African American culture. It takes education and trialing to get it right, and when you think you've mastered it, the texture changes and you start all over. It was a little intimidating to think that that much time and energy goes into this topic....HAIR!
Haven already seen Good Hair (2009) with Chris Rock and knowing what some African American women do for good hair, it was relieving to hear that it can be approached from an organic and natural way. :)
In case you're interested: a few books that have been recommended or that I came across on transracial adoption include:
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
In Their Siblings' Voices: White Non-Adopted Siblings Talk About Their Experiences Being Raised with Black and Biracial Brothers & Sisters by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
In Their Parents' Voices: Reflections on Raising Transracial Adoptees by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other by Scott Simon
Back to the paperwork!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
An adventure
We decided to go dowtown Monday and have our fingerprints done and our criminal records checked. After standing out like the only two kids wearing the wrong color tshirt and running through an unexpected downpour, we can officially say that we have no criminal record!
With fingers crossed, we hope that the FBI fingerprint check comes back clear. :)
With fingers crossed, we hope that the FBI fingerprint check comes back clear. :)
We have conceived!
We completed our Weekend Intensive course this weekend and per the agency, we are officially parents! We are...excited, overwhelmed, giddy, and purely in awe that we will have a baby in ~1.5 years! A little longer than the typical 9 months wait, but we'll have a fantastic story to share with our kid.
In eleven hours of "class," we learned of how many forms and hoops to jump through before we can schedule our homestudy visits, how to write a dear birthmother letter, how to talk to a birthmother, what the matched process generally entails, and the legalities of finalizing our adoption.
Lets just say that if typical birth parents had to go through what we will, not as many would be having children. We must have a fire extinguisher on each floor of our home - who has that? We must be physically and criminally clean; even have HIV testing done. We must provide proof of employment and write autobiographies. We must sign a gun safety form, even though we don't own a gun. We must also complete an online transracial training since we are open to children other than Caucasian.
After being overwhelmed by all of that, our adoption process was affirmed via videos of successful adoptions. We have no idea the roller coaster of emotions we will ride, but in the end we will have the baby that's meant to be ours.
I think the best part of the weekend was meeting other couples who are starting the process with us. One of which lives across the street from SML's parents! It's comforting to know that we have someone else to turn to during this process who knows exactly what we are feeling and thinking.
In eleven hours of "class," we learned of how many forms and hoops to jump through before we can schedule our homestudy visits, how to write a dear birthmother letter, how to talk to a birthmother, what the matched process generally entails, and the legalities of finalizing our adoption.
Lets just say that if typical birth parents had to go through what we will, not as many would be having children. We must have a fire extinguisher on each floor of our home - who has that? We must be physically and criminally clean; even have HIV testing done. We must provide proof of employment and write autobiographies. We must sign a gun safety form, even though we don't own a gun. We must also complete an online transracial training since we are open to children other than Caucasian.
After being overwhelmed by all of that, our adoption process was affirmed via videos of successful adoptions. We have no idea the roller coaster of emotions we will ride, but in the end we will have the baby that's meant to be ours.
I think the best part of the weekend was meeting other couples who are starting the process with us. One of which lives across the street from SML's parents! It's comforting to know that we have someone else to turn to during this process who knows exactly what we are feeling and thinking.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Picture time!
We met with an old friend of SML's at UNC-Chapel Hill earlier in May and had a photoshoot. We thought it would be a beautiful background and memorable since we will both be alumns from there. :) We took Somer and had a lot of fun walking around campus.
As for now, here's a sneak peek of some pictures:
www.emilyalane.net
We'll post more soon!
As for now, here's a sneak peek of some pictures:
www.emilyalane.net
We'll post more soon!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
We have a date
We sent in our preliminary paperwork for our Weekend Intensive course and heard back from the agency. We have a date! June 24-25 we will be in attendance at the workshop...and officially starting our adoption!
Monday, March 21, 2011
The verdict is in
SML is going to UNC Chapel Hill for Nursing!
Sorry for the delay in news, but we have been celebrating and enjoying the moment! She finally got into the school of her dreams. The news came five days after App State said yes. It was a good day...we enjoyed a VA sparkling wine, made tons of phone calls, and went to a Debonzo Brothers show. The following day, she dropped her detested chemistry class.
She starts soon - May 10th! We have been busy filling out financial aid paperwork, getting her health records in order, shopping for a laptop, and orienting her to campus.
In other news, we get to start the adoption process!
I have been filling out the preliminary paperwork and requested our Weekend Intensive Workshop dates. This intensive weekend is where we will learn the detailed process of our open adoption, meet our coordinator, receive our 5 ton mound of paperwork, sign a contract with the agency...oh and start paying them!
It finally feels like our life is in motion again.
Sorry for the delay in news, but we have been celebrating and enjoying the moment! She finally got into the school of her dreams. The news came five days after App State said yes. It was a good day...we enjoyed a VA sparkling wine, made tons of phone calls, and went to a Debonzo Brothers show. The following day, she dropped her detested chemistry class.
She starts soon - May 10th! We have been busy filling out financial aid paperwork, getting her health records in order, shopping for a laptop, and orienting her to campus.
In other news, we get to start the adoption process!
I have been filling out the preliminary paperwork and requested our Weekend Intensive Workshop dates. This intensive weekend is where we will learn the detailed process of our open adoption, meet our coordinator, receive our 5 ton mound of paperwork, sign a contract with the agency...oh and start paying them!
It finally feels like our life is in motion again.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Good vibes coming our way
App State said YES!!!
We are still waiting to hear from UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte, but SML will definitly be starting Nursing school in May!
We'll keep you updated as we hear more from the other schools in the next couple of weeks.
We are still waiting to hear from UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte, but SML will definitly be starting Nursing school in May!
We'll keep you updated as we hear more from the other schools in the next couple of weeks.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Hurry up and wait
SML received an email this past week from UNC-Chapel Hill regarding some good and bad news.
Bad news: It stated that due to budget cuts, the SON is immediately cutting their enrollment by 25% and will only accept traditional BSN applicants in May 2011 and will only accept accelerated BSN applicants in Jan. 2012.
Good news: SML is a traditional BSN applicant and therefore is still in the running for May 2011 admittance. Decisions will be made by March 20th.
So, we now just hurry up and wait...
Bad news: It stated that due to budget cuts, the SON is immediately cutting their enrollment by 25% and will only accept traditional BSN applicants in May 2011 and will only accept accelerated BSN applicants in Jan. 2012.
Good news: SML is a traditional BSN applicant and therefore is still in the running for May 2011 admittance. Decisions will be made by March 20th.
So, we now just hurry up and wait...
Friday, January 14, 2011
A little longer...
So January 10th, 2011 has come and gone...without movement off of the waiting list and no acceptance to UNC-Chapel Hill for SML. She is attempting to stand tall and raise her head up, again. She has started her two final prereq classes and will apply to App State and UNC-Charlotte for a May admittance. Her application to UNC is already in, also for a May admittance.
So, our hope is SML will start nursing school this summer. We will be waiting, hopefully, just a little longer to start the adoption process since we want SML in a nursing program.
In the meantime, we are still reading what we can get our hands on. Another good find is Parenting Inc. by Pamela Paul. This was an eye-opening read and validation of what we think about parenting. If interested, it explores the high price of parenting today and how aggressive the marketing is to parents for mostly unneeded resources and material goods.
So, our hope is SML will start nursing school this summer. We will be waiting, hopefully, just a little longer to start the adoption process since we want SML in a nursing program.
In the meantime, we are still reading what we can get our hands on. Another good find is Parenting Inc. by Pamela Paul. This was an eye-opening read and validation of what we think about parenting. If interested, it explores the high price of parenting today and how aggressive the marketing is to parents for mostly unneeded resources and material goods.
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