New FAQ Answers

I just added these to the FAQ page because I've been asked both quite a bit and thought it might be good to put the answers out there:

Question: After you complete this adoption, do you plan on having a biological child?

Nope. Adoption is the means we are using to grow our family. 

Question: Now that you're waiting for #1 (and it's a long wait), have you started the process for #2?

Yes, I am adding this to the FAQ page because, well, it's become a frequently asked question! Right now Tony and I are remaining focused on our Little Guy and have decided to wait until after we bring him home to make a decision about adding to our family again. We aren't sure what will be involved with his transition into our family, nor do we know how it will for us as new parents. Plus, the adoption process is lengthly, difficult, time consuming, expensive, invasive and uncertain. We aren't even sure if Korea will be allowing international adoptions in a couple of years. Finally, we are not allowed to be actively working on another adoption while in the process of this one. In fact, we are not allowed to begin the process of adopting from Korea for a second time until the first adoption is completely final, which happens 5 months after we return from Korea.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all! Mother's Day...a happy day for some, a sad day for others. A day to celebrate the women who have raised us and shaped us into who we are today (be they our mother, grandmother, aunt or someone else who loved and cared for us). A day to pamper the tireless mothers who never seem to get a break. But also a day for many to reflect on losses -- the death of a child (born or unborn), the death of a mom or grandmother, infertility, a loss of the opportunity to become a mom, etc.

This year is my first year celebrating as a "sort-of" Mom; also meaning that I didn't silently cry my way through the church service today. Tony surprised me with a beautiful necklace and matching earrings with rubies -- our Little Guy's birthstone. How thoughtful!

Truthfully, it's a bit of an odd Mother's Day for me. As I told Tony, I'm not really a mom yet. I don't do the kind of work moms do, and I don't have anyone to mother! His response was perhaps one of the funniest descriptions of where we are at in the crazy roller coaster of a wait. He said, "You are a mother, your child is just on layaway!" So true.

I sure love Tony...and our Little Guy. My prayer today is that his foster mother is feeling loved, cherished and honored by her family (including our little one). I pray that he is a blessing to her and that she gets to be pampered a bit today by the men in her life (our little guy, her son and husband).

Enjoy your day!

International Adoption - An Article

I came across an article in today's paper talking about the overall decrease in international adoption. It's written by an Associated Press writer, Margie Mason. She gets into a variety of issues including the Hague Adoption Convention (note that Korea is not part of the Hague Convention), fraud and countries shifting their domestic policies in order to reduce or eliminate international adoption. If you have a minute, it's an interesting read: click here for the text.

The First Care Package

Care Package #1

This weekend Tony and I went on a little shopping trip to pick up a few things for our very first care package. The items have to fit in a one gallon zip lock bag; no liquids allowed. We wanted to get him something soft and cuddly, so we found this cute cuddly bear-blanket he can carry around. We also found a fun mirrored lion teether and a soft squishy stuffed bear. Finally, we are including a framed picture of Tony and I. And, the bag is full!

We had a lot of fun shopping together for it, though we also realized that we have a lot to learn about little kids' stuff. We plan to bring it with us on Saturday when we go to the waiting families seminar at Children's Home. I can't wait for him to receive it!