Adoption Update (5 FAQ's)

Here are the five most frequently asked questions we have been receiving lately in regards to our adoption. And their answers.


1. Where are you at in the process?

We just finished all of the paperwork required to complete our homestudy renewal (a process that we've been working on diligently for the past two months). We now just have to meet with our adoption specialist one time next week, and then we will just be waiting on our homestudy write-up to get finished. After that, we will be able to apply to the adoption agency that we are using this time. (We already have the entire application filled out...we will just need to send it in with our homestudy.) Our goal is to be on the agency's waiting list around September 1.


2. How soon do you think you will get a baby?

Well the short answer is...we have no idea. If it would happen to go as fast as our first two adoptions, we could be chosen within the first month or two. However, if this adoption would have more of a "normal" waiting time, it could be a year or so before we are picked. (Or longer!) And once we are picked, the timing can vary a lot, as well! Some birthmoms choose the adoptive family when they are still very early in their pregnancy, while others don't choose an adoptive family until the baby has been born. (We have had one adoption each way...Ivy's birthparents chose us when Ivy's birthmom was only four months pregnant, while Israel's birthmom chose us when he was about eight hours old.)


3. Will this adoption be open or closed?

We don't know yet. We would be fine with either one (but probably lean a little more toward open if we could choose). It is really up to the birthmom who chooses us. Of course, we will have the option not to accept her terms if she wants to have more contact than we feel comfortable with. Each adoption is completely unique, and different birthmoms want different degrees of contact with the child. We already have one open adoption and one closed, so we are definitely not opposed to either one.


4. Why are you choosing to adopt over having another biological child at this time?

I've had this question quite a bit lately (both directly and in an indirect, hinting sort of way). :) There are quite a few reasons...so I will refer you HERE for the answer. 


5. Are you specifying a certain gender?

No, we are not. We would equally love another boy or girl in our family!


And a sixth one, just for fun...

6. Do you have names picked out?

Yes! We have both a boy and girl name picked out. We don't have their middle names picked out yet, though, because we like the middle names of our children to be named after their birthmoms. I love the names we have picked out SO much that I may have to try to convince Aaron to have a fifth child just to use both names. (Just joking...sort of.)

There you have it. :) We LOVE talking about adoption, so feel free to ask us more at any time!!