[kanddmama]

Hi
I just found this forum and love scrapbooking. I have done 4 albums for our bio daughter who is almost 6. We are in the process of adopting from Haiti and I am wondering if anyone has ideas about how to fill the gaps before the child came to the orphanage. I feel such a sadness that our new daughter will have no pictures of herself before she was 2. My bio daughter laves looking through her albums and I would like to create something like it for our adopted daughter.

Carlita Harbidge

[crathke]

Hi, Carlita--

It sounds as if we have somewhat similar situations; we're waiting for our almost-three year old to come home from Guatemala and we have a 7-yr old bio son as well. Since I didn't start scrapbooking until a couple of years ago, I don't have any pages of the "waiting time" before my oldest was born; I'm clearly expecting in a couple of the pictures, but Nick didn't really "show up" until the page I made that simply has his birth announcement on it. (and then, boy, did I make up for lost time!)--so I'm torn, too; my inclination at this point (in terms of "equity") is to simply have Aaron "appear" on a "finally home" type of page.

If that doesn't work for you, I'd suggest doing a "homestudy" page--using the pictures you took of the house, etc, with lots of journaling! (I keep a journal for both my boys, and Aaron's started when we started the process: in the first few entries I simply refer to him as "Sweet Baby", and that's where I'm discussing what it's like to not know what your new child will look like, etc--that may be another idea for you--to give your youngest her story as it happens. How did you feel when you got the referral? Do you ever worry about the changing family dynamics? )

Another idea would be to scrapbook a "that was then" kind of page--what was going on in the world when your new child was born? What were the headlines? What was the weather like--both where you are and in Haiti? It's harder for little ones to understand, but as she gets older she may be able to tie some of it together for herself. We know when Aaron was relinquished to the hogar, when he saw the doctor, etc, and if you have that kind of info, you could create an "adoption timeline"--what your little girl is doing in Haiti, waiting, and what you're doing at home, waiting.

Just brainstorming--hope this helps!

Courtney

[mrskdavis]

Courtney, I love your idea about an adoption timeline! Even if you don't have pictures of your child as a baby, you can still celebrate how anticipated and loved they were long before they transcended to their rightful spot on your family tree. I just published an adoption journal for parents expecting through adoption. It works for older child adoptions as well. You might use some of the ideas from the sample pages I have listed on the website, www.MamaBuffaloBooks.com. Good luck! -Kirsten

[scrapandtell]

I hate to sound like an advertisement here, but my web site might be just what you are looking for to help you! My site specializes in adoption scrapbook supplies and has things particular to many countries.

My kids are from Guatemala and finding items for their lifebooks was very difficult. Hence, my business.

Let me know if there is any way I can help you. My site does have a section on lifebook tips, if that is of any assistance.

Jennifer