[PinkRibbon]

I'm in the process of adopting an older daughter, although I don't know who just yet. I have been fighting the urges to get her room ready for whenever she comes, because she will be older (6-12). I think she should be in on the decorating process because it will help her feel like this is her home. It's really hard to rein myself in. What have people done when adopting older kids?

[MNelson]

Originally posted by PinkRibbonAmy
I think she should be in on the decorating process because it will help her feel like this is her home. It's really hard to rein myself in.

I think you're instincts are right on in allowing your daughter-to-be to part of the decorating process. Maybe in the meantime you could cut out pictures from magazines, color copies from books, etc. and make a scrapbook for her to look at for ideas. Go to the fabric store and cut swatches of fabric for curtains, etc. This will allow you to do something now about it, and will provide her something to pick from that you would like, too. Just a thought.

[PinkRibbon]

Originally posted by HappyNHopeful
I think you're instincts are right on in allowing your daughter-to-be to part of the decorating process. Maybe in the meantime you could cut out pictures from magazines, color copies from books, etc. and make a scrapbook for her to look at for ideas. Go to the fabric store and cut swatches of fabric for curtains, etc. This will allow you to do something now about it, and will provide her something to pick from that you would like, too. Just a thought.

That's a GREAT idea!
Do you think anyone will throw me a shower or is it appropriate to have one myself? I'm sure she's going to need things.

[enerad]

How about a welcoming party?

I know that we plan on doing an open house invitation about a month after we adopt. Simply to have friends and family come and visit, and to avoid having people drop by during those beginning days.

[djb_97]

Hi everyone -

We are now officially waiting! I have always been a big planner and wanting to get things done ASAP, it's been hard for me not to decorate the baby's room - DH & I decided to wait, but I have a feeling we'll start this summer ( unless we get matched much sooner ).

However, I do go to the baby section everytime I shop, sometimes I buy a little something, other times I check out what's there and decide what I'd like to buy in the future.

When we finished our home study, we celebrated by buying a crib, we hadn't plan to so soon - we were killing time after dinner on Valentine's Day and decided to shop, we happened by a great deal on a crib and decided to go for it! It's still in the box though.

This past weekend we picked up a diaper bag and a few necessities to go inside. Our next purchases will be a car seat and bassinet. A friend made these suggestions just incase we get a last minute call to pick up our baby from the hospital, this way we'd be ready - it stressed out the hubby though, oops!

He made me promise not to buy anything for the baby this week, I hope I don't break my promise, LOL!

I do feel like an expectant mom and feel the need to nest, hubby needs to get up to speed though, he is very excited about becoming a dad, but isn't eager to buy alot or decorate the room yet.

Best wishes and good luck to all still waiting and congratulations to those who have adopted!

Hugs,
Deb

[enerad]

It's comforting to have certain things ready to go. I have a package of diapers, chose a bottle system, a few clothes, a couple of blankets, the stroller, with car seat. We've put our crib on order. A friend loaned us a bassinet, and her changing table. I found a cute shepards basket and bought that as well. Thought it would be nice for a baby to sleep in if we were staying at an hotel for a period of time.

I know we will be going to buy just before a birth... but hopefully it won't be the big stuff.

I basically call all this our "Go Bag". It' just in case there is a last minute need. I heard someone once say... in the last minutes... it's an uncomfortable feeling to have to quickly choose things. The Baby Bargin book gave me a sense (no matter if you are adopting or not), get the things that are most important to you, and you think you will be pickly about.

Since we don't know sex yet.... it has stopped me from buying clothing, I am getting tired of neutral things. However... I had to get the several pieces of the Hungry Catipillar ensemble at Mervins.

Also... I have since discover two baby consignment stores that have great deals. I meander through and pick up bits and pieces.

What else do people who have had to go at the last minute found they needed?

[djb_97]

Isn't The Baby Bargain Book wonderful?! I also found it very helpful.

[y2jasmine]

We definitely started getting our nursery ready early. It started almost a year ago now. I started looking on EBay for things and then I bought a teddy bear set (bumper pad, comforter, sheets, etc). Then, I had a great idea for the dresser so I painted it and then modge-podged teddy bears and stenciled bear paws. Next came yard sales where we came home with all sorts of stuff. Then, there was more EBaying and signing up for baby clubs. Finally, I did a LOT of research, created a list and went shopping.

Now, I have this room where we have everything for a baby - crib, change table, dresser, storage table, clothing, toys, etc. AND, we'll probably be adopting an almost 3 yr old. Oh well, I guess I'll be having a yard sale this summer.

Yes, that's right...I have a nursery for a baby and we're probably going to be adopting a little girl who is 2 yrs, 9 months. We had always said our age range was up to 3, but went with the odds and bought stuff for the younger ages. All the clothes I bought were for 18-24 months (I figured that would be a good range).

So, here's my opinion now...adoption does not always turn out how you planned. I pictured a nursery with a crib when I might soon have a little girl's room with a twin bed. Thankfully I decorated for a girl's room up to age of about 5 or 6, sticking to teddy bears instead of a trendy theme.

So, nest all you want, it's great and lovely and fun to do...just make your flexible incase life throws you a slightly different, but still winning hand.

[doc_2006]

Hello All,

I've really enjoyed reading this thread. As an obsessive list-maker and planner, I've been extremely anxious to put together our nursery. We are finished with our homestudy and waiting for a referral. However for reasons like what happened to y2jasmine, I've been holding back.

We've just gotten word that our agency would like us to consider two boys, a toddler (~3 y/o) and an infant (~4 months old). I am thrilled and panicked at the same time.

Now I'm working on clearing out and re-decorating the guest room and my study. I love being able to shop in all those departments that I used to avoid! Yippeeeee!

Jill

[djb_97]

Hi everyone -

We've decided not to wait to decorate until we're matched.

We've been buying and given so many baby things, that we thought we better start getting the baby's room ready now, we'll be starting after Mother's Day - right now the room is being used as an office and DH has his veggie seedlings in there and it's not warm enough to plant yet.

We're looking forward to decorating, most of all, being able to put away the baby's things will be great! And it will solve the storage problem we've created - UGH!!

Take care,
Deb

[enerad]

After the nursery comes.... birth annoucements, showers, etc....

With adoption all these things are so hard. Do you begin planning these things, wait, or what? I am trying to treat myself as if I was "pregnant". Wandering through the baby stores, we just register at Babys R' Us. Trying to get all those little things done, so when the day comes we are ready.

Yet.... I worry about doing too much?

What have other's done or doing during the wait after your matched?

Darene

[bumpkin]

enerad - just wanted to pass along a tip for you, you mentioned in one of your posts that you have a cat sleeping in a bassinett. When the times comes and you want the cat out - try putting tin foil in the bassinett (or crib if he jumps in). They immediately get freaked out by the feel and sound of it.... worked wonders for us when we were waiting and the crib was up. My vetrinarian friend told me this trick and I continue to pass it on!

Best of luck

Bumpkin

[enerad]

Great idea on the tin foil for the cats. Boy our cats are going to have a wake up call when the baby arrives. They are used to sitting on our laps, one on mine, the other on my husband for their nightly pets and purrs.

Have a great cat story to tell. Max our youngest cat, received his name from the children's book "Where the Wild Things All". Anyway... he is the funniest looking cat. He has wings on the sides of him. Long white fluffy hair about 3 inches longer than the rest of the hair on his body. He also have a lion's main around his head. So when he sits... the wings fluff out.

Anyway... he is frequently seen "flying" through the house in the late evening hours with his night time crazies. The other night he went flying our of the bathroom, and my dh said, "What did you do to the cat?". I replied back, "Nothing.... why". He has something on his tail. Just as I was walking out of the bedroom, he comes flying by.... with a green piece of plastic attached to his tail. I began laughing.... some how he must of dipped his tail into the garbage in the bathroom, and the small white adhesive from the outside wrapper of a "Maxi pad" had attached it's self to his tail. After about 15 minutes, of trying to corner him to remove it, we had to laugh. He's our "Maxi pad with wings".

Does anyone have any ideas of how to deal with spoiled cats, and new babies?

Darene

[Scarlet]

ohhh I am wanting to hear these sugestions tooo. My cat is spoiled rotten. And I am worried to death that we are going to have problems. DH and my mom say I am just worring for nothing.

[mamacrina]

I too, would like to know about spoiled cats and new babies/children. One of our cats-Keziah we've raised from a kitten and is a true mama's girl. When we added Jayla to the family a couple years ago, guess who gained 3 lbs in 2 mos to prove who was still the boss around this place??

I am afraid that she especially will not take too kindly to a noisy baby taking over mama's time and space. lol Btw-Keziah was just weighed-13 lbs to Jayla's 9. Still the queen around here.

(I'm surprised she didn't add a few words here-she is 2 inches from my laptop,lol!)

Hugs,Crina