[Momof2boysinOH]

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if there are any things I can do ahead of time now while I'm waiting for the big 3-0. Can I take pictures for our dossier? My agency tells me it's too soon to request birth certificates so I'm wondering if there's anything I can do besides sit and wait. Any ideas?

Thanks for your help!
Mary
turning 30 in 4 1/2 months

[terryb]

There are a few good books out there...
Lost Girls of China, Wanting a daughter needing a son...we also just got a book called "Foreign Babes in Beijing" which is not about adoption but is an American woman's memoir of her time in China. I haven't read it yet but hope to very soon.

Maybe you could learn a little bit of Chinese? I borrowed some language tapes from the library and have listened to some.

Make a quilt or start a memory book for your new baby?

Good luck and I hope the time speeds by for you!

[Momof2boysinOH]

Terry--Thanks. I've read 2 of the books you mentioned. Quilting is not my thing, but I like your suggestion of the memory book. I think learning Chinese would be fun for both me and my husband. Thanks for the idea!


Mary

[Korrie Sue]

I am turning 30 next month. I started gathering everything in April.

Here are a few ideas to get your started...

1. Get your passports - remember to get lots of extra passport photos
2. Write your autobios
3. Schedule your doctor appointments
4. Write your adoption petition
5. Fill out the application for the birth and marriage certificates. This way you can just pop them in the mail when it is time.
6. create your photo packet
7. go to your local library and check out all the china adoption books (my library had about 10, not including kids books). I also watched all the China videos they had.
8. If you are a first time parent, read parenting books.

[Momof2boysinOH]

Korrie Sue,

Thanks for the list! Can't I just request birth & marriage certificates online when the time comes? We have passports, although I guess I should get extra photos taken. What should my photo packet look like?

Thanks!

Mary

[donnagenelle]

We did everthing! Our dossier went for translation a month before my wife's 30th b-day (feb 17th). Our DTC date is feb 10th and our LID is Feb 21st. So... go for it now!

Jason

[terryb]

I had just asked about photos (how to "display" them for our dossier)...we have been asked to submit six photos--one of the inside of the home, one outside, and others as a couple. As we have older children, we have included two family pictures and three pictures of one adult with one or two children.

If you see that thread (Photos for Dossier) you will see that different agencies may have different requirements for the photos...but you can certainly get started and then have a few to choose from if you need to cut back.

[caseymunn]

I too am waiting for 30, so I thought I'd pass along something I'm doing while I wait. Since we intend to be DTC in February of 2006, I can sort of figure out timelines of when we'll travel to China and about how old Olivia will be. I realize this could be off by a month or two (or even more) but this is still something I've done.

I figure that if we're DTC in February, then we'll hopefully get our referral in August and in my little dream world, Olivia will be about 8 months old at the time of referral. With that info I can sort of figure out when her birthday was and then go back to her date of conception. In my dream world, Olivia was conceived around April 1st of this year and will be born this December. Once you sort of figure out when your child may have been conceived, you can go along the pregnancy with her! You can sign up for one of the online pregnancy calendars that email you updates or you can look through a maternity book. This way I can (sort of) know how she's growing in her birth Mom's tummy. I don't feel so far away from her when I travel along her journey with her. It also helps me to remember how her birth Mom must feel and how hard it will be for her to give up her little girl. I pray for Olivia and her birth parents everyday that the pregnancy will go well and that someone will come into their lives to witness to them so that Olivia might one day meet them in Heaven and so that we'll one day be able to thank them for our beloved daughter.

Anyway, trying to envision Olivia growing in a womb in China helps me through the endless days of waiting. Right now (again - in my dream world) she's about 10 weeks! That means my little girl has all of her (very tiny) organs! Olivia's heart has been beating for weeks now! If my timeline truly is correct, she'll be born around my son's birthday. I think that would be so neat.

I also buy anything I see with her name on it - which doesn't happen very often with the name Olivia. As much as I know I shouldn't, I've also bought her lots of clothes. I can't be sure of her size or season, but I'm guesstimating! I only buy things on sale, I promise! (My dh is ready to strangle me!) Oh and I buy Asian dolls on the incredibly rare occasions that I find them.

I'm so glad I have other under 30 friends to wait with! I would be lost without you guys!

[Korrie Sue]

Mary, Depending on what state you live it is cheaper to order them by mail. However, this route takes longer. Since you have lots of time, this might be worth looking into. It saved me $40.

[Momof2boysinOH]

Casey--That is a neat idea to track the "guestimated" pregnancy. I hadn't thought of doing that. I have one little holiday dress I bought on sale...I don't know if it will fit but I couldn't resist buying it. I'm not positive on the name yet, so I haven't bought anything personalized (right now I like Daisy a lot but my dh isn't crazy about it). My older son's godmother is named Olivia...it's a cute name!

Korrie Sue--Thanks for the suggestion of ordering birth certificates by mail. I'll look into it.


Mary
Mommy to 2 bio sons, Julian (b. 4/1/03) & Christian (b. 12/6/04)
Waiting a few more months to turn 30 and get our sons ready for a baby sister!