[shay34]

When do you think its a good idea to start the nursery and buying baby items since you do not know when the baby will come? Will you wait until the baby is home with you? Or will you prepare before hand and to what degree?

[ISW]

It's a personal choice as to when you start doing those things. Before you do, if you haven't thought of this already, you may want to consider how you are going to feel looking at an empty nursery for what could be an extended period of time. For me, this was not an issue so mine has been ready since last spring! I do understand your desire to get ready sooner than later--for me, it was one of the few things I could do to help me feel like any other biological mother would and I had a lot of fun doing it.

As far as clothing is concerned, I have several boxes of newborn clothing, blankets etc... that I received from my sister that I have ready to go in case I have a last minute situation arise. I think it's good to be prepared in a way that you can react quickly to any adoption situation and not freak out when you get home because you have so much yet to do!

Have fun!

[lkwelch]

Well, for us. We did not prepare a nursery until he was home. We did not want the pain of looking at an empty nursery. And we had an adoption fall through the first time. So, we had chosen a basinett and looked at some stuff.
When we got the call we went and picked up the basinett and a few necessities. We were also given some things from the hospital when we picked the baby up.
We were notified that we were chosen the day he was born and he was home with us at 5 days old. He is now 2 1/2. Everything worked out great. We went shopping with family members the day after we got him. And had 3 baby showers! I took my time decorating his room for him in puppies and sports balls. But of course now he loves horses!! So we have to change the room anyways!!They spend the first several months in your room anyways!! As ISW said It is each persons choice!!
Have a Great time, You will!!

[34andhopeful]

It really is a personal choice. We did not completely decorate the nursery until be brought our son home. We did purchase the things that you NEED. Like a crib, a changing table and a chest of drawers. I purchased 5 outfits that would work for a boy or a girl. We did not put up any decorations or buy any toys.

However, there are some bmom's who like to see a decorated nursery before she chooses the aparents for her child.

I am not sure if I was much help. I guess what I am saying is do what is comfortable for you. You will need the stuff eventually...

[joannemckay76]

We bought what we needed for the first two weeks, infant car seat, bassinet, blancets,size 1 diapers.I figured when we adopted we would have a shower or two. I DID register at babysrus, i was so excited picking stuff out with out really buying them yet.I've had two years to think about it... joanne

[Radd]

we prepared our nursery after we were connected with our birth mother. we knew she was having a boy. we had the bed , bassett and changing table and few clothes and a ready to go in a hurry bag ready. We did not have baby showers until after we got him home. i am so glad that we did not have a lot of stuff a head of time. Our birthmother chaged her mind at the last minute. It was very difficult to pack things away. But three weeks later we unpacking it because she called back to place him with us again. he is 8 months old now.

[nickosgal]

We decorated our nursery as soon as we were officially accepted with our agency. It's helped me to pass the time and really enjoy thinking about our future child.

For me, it is not a feeling of hopelessness for me to go in there. I get excited when I see the room knowing that someday soon a child will be in there sleeping. It's been like a therapy to me. I enjoy buying things for it and dreaming of the day.

I say, whenever you are ready is when you should begin.

[34andhopeful]

Pink and denim and khaki are neutral - just add some pink and some frolli stuff - then it'll be a girls room. Those were the colors that we chose also - for the walls. We did wait on the linens...

[jem429]

We began purchasing baby books and clothing after we got our approved homestudy and submitted birthmother letter to our agency.

I guess you could say we wanted to be like boy scouts prepared. I gave us something to do during the really queit time before you get on the roller coaster of being presented to birthmoms.

I would agree that it is a personal choice and you really need to know if you are ready to handle looks at a nursey everyday. However, with all the fees of the agency, birthmother assistance fees and the fact that we will eed to travel out of state to pickup our child. We really don't need the head ache of running around at the last minute to pickup furniture and items for the baby.

Planning ahead has allowed us to do some research on crib safety. We have been able to catch some fantastic seasonal sales on clothing and other baby gear. I will tell you a major draw back is not knowing if your going to get a boy or girl. There are just to many cute clothes on the market.

We are being presented to birthmothers now though we have not been choosen yet. We excitedly look forward to the day when we can bring our child home. And most of all baby's comfort space and our love nest has already been built.

I wish you all the best on your decision.

[Angel14]

We painted the room almost immediately after our homestudy was complete, and we chose a colr that could go either for a boy or girl. At first we agreed we would not buy anything until we we chosen. But there are so many highs and lows in waiting (it's been almost nine months) that we recently decided we would buy one thing a week. We agreed we would buy things that would have to with the baby. So far we have bought a few childrens books, blanket, photo albums, washcloths, hooded bath sets, and the cutest little socks (I had to get them). I know for us it has helped to keep our spirits up and positive, and it really gives us something to get excited about!

[jadynsmom]

We painted the room early since we had some light blue paint that we did not like on our office. We thought it would be great for a baby's room (I was planning on doing yellow with blue accents and just switched them). We bought Pooh border paper and put it up the same week we got matched. First match fell through, but I was OK with having the room partially done. I am a fairly strong person and I KNEW I would get a baby eventually, so seeing it every day was not a problem for me. (I also had been buying stuff for a baby's room for 3 years prior, so a commitment was already made on my part).

It affected my husband more, though, so be sensitive about that as well when you decide. We got our second match 2 weeks before the baby was due, so we got everything else, including clothes, the weekend we we got the call. I was glad that I had the major stuff done ahead of time, so if you want to get something started, go ahead and paint. That's the worst thing to have to do after the baby comes. But you may want to wait on the clothes. First of all, you should plan for the worst, but secondly, ultrasounds are not 100%.

[nickosgal]

I wanted to add that we did our nursery in a jungle theme with neutral earth tone colors. WE are not sure if we'll get a boy or girl and didn't want to wait to start, so neutral was our solution. It turned out very cute and it's definitely not specific to a boy or girl.

[Jennifer]

We have our nursery kind of ready..... we had gotten it all ready last year and than found out we were victims of a scam, so the door was closed and everything packed away. A few months later we were matched again, this time baby was a boy, so I repainted it a light blue and brought some things back out and bought some new things, a month before his due date his bmom delivered stillborn. We were crushed to say the least. I left the walls blue for about a month, and than through someone very close to us were chosen by a young bmom who was having a girl, so this time I played it safe and repainted the walls a neutral cream color, put the Winnie the Pooh border back up and started working on the rest of the nursery....... a couple of days before birth she decided to parent, so the room still sits unfinished and I can tell you that there are days when I want to close the door and not open it, but it doesn't stay closed for too long.

We have never given up and never will...... our journey is going on 2 years........ keep the faith!!

Jennifer