Thank you so much for the well wishes! To say that we are excited would be a huge understatement. We are scared and nervous and apprehensive and I keep making Aaron promise me that he was never arrested for anything, but mostly we are just excited.
When I told one of my friends at work last week, she squealed and began asking me about baby names, and I appreciated it so, so much — that her immediate reaction to our news was similar to if I’d announced we were expecting in the more traditional way.
Battling infertility familiarizes you with “the sad face” pretty quickly. And I get that most people want to empathize, but they literally don’t know how. Nor, really, would I expect that they should. Why would they?
So taking that off feels like shrugging out from underneath a heavy, worn coat full of ashes.
When I made the first adoption-related phone call, my hands shook for hours afterward. But not because I was scared or nervous, but because I was so happy.
Right now I’m working on our family profile, or our “marketing materials,” as an adoptive-mama friend of mine once called it. This means I am going through all our photos looking for the perfect ones to represent us and writing our narrative over and over in my head.
It’s a bit overwheming to think of boiling down who we are and why we’re looking to adopt into a “brochure,” but for a photographer/writer/scrapbooker/navel-gazer like me, it’s kinda my thing.
I’m hoping it’s okay to dedicate a full spread to the dogs.
adoption, infertility
If you want to discuss baby names, I could do that all day every day!
So very, very excited for your family…and I’m with Emilie on the baby name thing. My family insists that I’m queen of “find-the-horrible-nickname-the-kid-will-be-saddled-with,” so they run all the names by me. Of course, I had to find someone to do that for ME, because I thought all of *our* baby names were perfect. ;o)
Back to the topic at hand: I think you’re a very ‘marketable’ family–have fun with every aspect of the planning!
So looking forward to hearing more about this exciting new chapter of your lives!
Looking forward to God gifting you with a precious little gift! You will be amazing parents and I know He will handpick the lucky little one who will get to have you and Aaron as his/her mommy and daddy.
You are going to hate us, BUT we actually like Atticus
We’re on Aaron’s team for this one. My advice is not to ask for input on names. I did and it was hard to think clearly about them with everyone’s two cents. You guys make the call together and then let everyone know. It will be fitting for your son/daughter and your family. I can’t wait to meet this little one. I want to see the Beatty kids reaction to your news too. They will be so prayerful for him/her – so sensitive to children, family and the Lord.
Well, you know I could discuss baby names ’til the cows come home.
In any case, I am super excited for you and Aaron. You two will be great parents!
Hey, I love talking about baby names. And best of luck to you and Aaron– I know you guys will be wonderful parents!
Oh my goodness I’m so excited for you!! I am still at the beginning of my infertility journey but there have been several times already that I have thought about adoption and it always makes me happy. In fact, I see myself adopting in the future even if I end up being able to have kids the traditional way. Can’t wait to read more about it!
Johanna! I am just now reading all about this big news! I am covered in goosebumps! WOW! I am so excited for your little family of 2 {+4!} to grow to a little family of 3 … I hope you’ll document the journey as much as you are able. This is amazing news!!!!!!!!!!!