It's a good thing that we are in the throws of getting our adoption paperwork all in-order. It's taken my mind completely off of the IVF stuff and our recent minor setback.
This weekend, I concentrated on getting our adoption profile book finished. My good friend's mother, who loves taking pictures as a hobby and owns top-of-the-line equipment, agreed to do a photo shoot for us - provided she gets to be an honorary grandma when our baby finally arrives. For four hours on Saturday, she followed us around snapping photos. Since neither of us likes getting our picture taken - nor are we in the best shape - it was uncomfortable. But, we survived and she took several photos that we used in the book.
What is the purpose of the book? Well, once a birth mother decides to pursue adoption for her unborn child, our agency will show her a questionnaire three couples completed about themselves, each other and their values. They are also shown three profile books and asked to select an adoptive couple based on this information. Occasionally, the birth mother may ask to see additional profiles, but for the most part, she chooses from among the three initial couples presented to her.
I never realized how difficult it is to talk about yourself - especially when you are competing against many high-achieving couples who are also looking to adopt.
Now that it is nearly complete, it just makes me once again appreciate all the good I have in my life and more confident about the wonderful life we will give the child lucky enough to find us as their parents.
I am planning to place my book order on Wednesday - so if you have any feedback, please leave a comment. Please be candid (I promise you won't hurt our feelings). We are very close to the process and might have omitted or included something that may be misunderstood.
Thanks for your honesty! Enjoy!
http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/all/jamie-and-steve-intro-5115995
6 comments:
Beautiful book, Jamie. Thanks for sharing. I think it's perfect. It was fun to get to know you and your DH better thru your book and I'm sure a birth mother will appreciate it as well. I can't see why a birth mother wouldn't choose such a wonderful couple with so much to give.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as you begin the adoption process and also as you await and prepare for another FET. I hope you have a baby or two on the way very soon via adoption and/or FET.
Jamie...you and Steve are such humble wonderful people. You have a stong sense of goodwill and is exemplified in your book. The book is wonderful!! I wouldn't change a thing! I want so badly for you to be parents VERY soon. I hope its via adoption and/or your upcoming FET. Oh and if you want to adopt two adults...A and I would be willing to move in!!
Thanks for the feedback. This is helpful!
I am just so amazed by your travels and just your vivacity for living life... any adoptive mother would be nutso to skip you guys. You obviously have a very solid foundation as a family and boatloads of love to give. I hope your wait is short!
i loved your book. it has a very warm feel to it....not to formal, but yet, well organized. you do a great job describing yourselves and how you would want to parent. the only thing i wonder about is the details of your TTC process. does the social worker suggest that those details, like donor egg, should be part of this? some of my questioning is also for myself as we may be completing our book soon, too.
CCRM - Thanks for your comments. Although my husband has a very stoic personality and a smile doesn't come naturally, we do have lots of fun together and he does make me laugh. I am glad that we do not come across as wealthy parents that would shower our children with money. Yes, we love to travel - but I've almost always found creative and inexpensive ways to economize so that the cost of our trips is equivalent to the cost of a vacation in the USA (e.g. - renting an apartment vs. a hotel room).
Hoping - Good question. The adoption advisor didn't really give us any guidelines other than to "be ourselves". I thought it would be helpful to disclose the information about donor eggs because it explains that we don't believe that it takes genetics to create a family. (Also, if our FET ends up working and we're still in the process of being matched - there may not be as much concern from the birthpaents that we would favor "our" child over "theirs" - because neither child will have my genetics).
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