[Dee1234]

We've been waiting for about 1.5 years since our home study was approved, so I've done quite a few things during that time. I painted the nursery and we put up a wall paper border. I bought a few baby essentials and created a baby registry. I took a dance class and joined an exercise class. I started a blog to write about my journey to parenthood and experiences with the adoption process. I babysit my niece and nephew. I've also done a ton of networking to find a child, along with lots of reading about adoption.

I recently decided to go back to work and have begun looking for a job. I held off doing this for a while because I thought we would become parents any day and didn't want to start a new job and then have to leave. But now I realize that I can't put my life on hold while we wait for a child.

My advice during the waiting period is to keep busy doing things you enjoy, but don't let the adoption process consume you. Make sure you take a break from the reading, research, networking and thinking about adoption.

Best of luck to everyone. I hope your wait is a short one!