[PepRMntPatti120]

This is a great idea. I am sleepy-eyed, but will try my best to answer your questions. Hope it helps you.

1. What is your family make-up now?
Brian & I will be celebrating our 4th year of marriage next week! We are presently waiting to adopt our first child.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
Either sex is fine, it will be a surprise. We are adopting a newborn, domestically.

3. From where are you planning to adopt? NYS

4. How long have you been waiting? Overall 2 years.

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting. I really haven't had any fears, except that it may take too long! I feel very confident in us becoming adoptive parents.


6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
My greatest hope is to provide a loving, stable environment for our child(ren) and that they will feel secure within our family.

7. How many times have you been matched? zero What has been your experience been like so far? Well, we are adopting through an agency. Unlike most open adoptions that take place today - our adoption will be different. The birthmom will select us from various profiles she will be shown. Once she gives birth, signs relinquishment and the child is legally free for adoption, our caseworker will call to tell us our baby has arrived. We will pick the baby up 24 - 48 hours later.
Birthparents can determine the degree of openness they want as they make an adoption plan. We will send photos, letters, etc as she wishes. All correspondence passes through the agency, they will not reveal the last names or addresses of either the adoptive couple or the birthparents to one another.
So, our first year was very busy... we participated in the homestudy program, followed by a few months to put together a 20 page scrapbook of our "life". Since the profile went into submission (Jan 2005), all we can do it hope, pray and wait.

[Alyssa_Gadsby]

1. What is your family make-up now?
My husband, me, and a few animals

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
Actually, we don't have any specifics other than we would prefer a child three years old or younger.

3. From where are you planning to adopt?
We would like to adopt from Russia, but there are a couple of other countries that seem to pique our interest as well

4. How long have you been waiting? We're still in the research process

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
That it will test our patience to the gills (the process, not the child! ) However, we both have faith that God will bless with a child of our own to raise and love.


6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
To know that he or she has two parents who love him/her, would do anything for him/her, and would be proud to call us Mom & Dad. Oh, and that he/she would become president and take care of us when we're older than dirt. J/K! LOL!

7. How many times have you been matched? None
What has been your experience been like so far? So far? The research process is not as, umm, interesting as I thought it would be. Its actually rather difficult, but I know (DH abandoned me on this part ) it will be well worth it in the end.

My best friend walks on water,
Alyssa

[missw005]

1. What is your family make-up now?
Me, single mom; J, ds, age 6; Q, ds, age 4 (recently finalized, yippee!!) and Nellie, our neurotic cat we adopted 2 years ago.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
Single boy or girl, 0-2; or sibs 0-3 (maybe 4, would have to be the right situation, prefer birth order placement). Prefer AA or Hispanic, or bi/multiracial. (Even though I'm CC, would not want CC children, I know, seems odd, but I could never do that to my boys) Would LOVE boy twins, about 7 months old!!!!! But totally unrealistic in special needs/foster care adoption.
3. From where are you planning to adopt?
Here in the U.S. - as special needs/foster care adoption. Unfortunately our state has very few kids available - even though I am a foster parent, I'm lucky if I get 1 or 2 placements a year as our county is very big geographically but very small population-wise. Very rural.

Many times it's easier to adopt again from a state you've successfully adopted from. My oldest son J was from NJ, but not much luck there. My youngest son was from OR, and we may have some luck there as well. Otherwise the states I look at most ( as they usually have younger kids) are OR, WA, OH, TX, FL and CA.
4. How long have you been waiting? About 1-1/2 years now. I've been to committee many times - 5 or 6 times this summer alone - but am always the 2nd or 3rd choice.
5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
That my sons will have a really hard time of it - even though they constantly ask when their new baby brother or sister is coming home. Especially J, he has some behavior/esteem/jealousy/emotional issues. Though Q will not give up his post as baby of the family easily, I'm sure.

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
To live independently, make an honest living, make me proud, learn to give back to others in their community, become good men and family men; to eventually become good parents themselves with what they've (hopefully) learned from me. To survive and thrive despite the obstacles their birth parents and years in foster care gave to them.

7. How many times have you been matched? None - but it's a bit different in special needs/foster care adoption. I've been to committee many, many times, however.
What has been your experience been like so far? At this point (1-1/2 years down the road) very difficult, disheartening, depressing at times - I've always said adoption is NOT for those weak of heart.

[Hollygirl]

1. What is your family make-up now?
My husband, me and one adorable chihauhau
2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
A newborn, any race, either gender
3. From where are you planning to adopt?
hope to make a private adoption plan
4. How long have you been waiting?
1 week ( though it feels like 20 years)
5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
My only fear is never raising a child
6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
I hope that he/she will be as happy as can be
7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far?
once, nerveracking

[singlemommy]

1. What is your family make-up now?
- Single mom to be. No kids yet.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
- Boy or girl. Ages 1- about 10

3. From where are you planning to adopt?
- Through foster care

4. How long have you been waiting?
- Thought about it for years. Started training in July 2005

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
- Not having the support I need from family and friends


6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
- They grow up to be happy and can look back on a happy childhood even if they didn't get off to a good start.


7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far?
None. I have my second out of four home study visits today.

[Acolo]

Fun getting to know you post!!

1. What is your family make-up now? My husband, me, our dog, Riley & our bird, Fozzie.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age? We're waiting for a baby. Boy or girl.

3. From where are you planning to adopt? We're adopting domestically. We live in CO.

4. How long have you been waiting? 4 months, although it seems like so much longer since we've known for so long.

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting. That it's going to take a looong time to be matched. And, then, once we are, the different possibilities.

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one? That he or she will be raised in a loving way so that they grow up confident and happy. We're just SO excited to have a little one!

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far? We've had a call from a relative who knows someone and thought it may be a match, but doesn't seem to be. Nothing 'real' as of yet. The first couple months were easy, but lately it's all I can think about and everyone says it won't happen until you let it go. I just don't know how to let something like this go, you know? SO, that stresses me out even more! heeh

[watermelon0719]

What a great idea! Thanks for doing this!

1. What is your family make-up now? It's just DH and I right now... we're in our early/mid 20's waiting to adopt our first! (Earlier in the process than you guys even - we haven't even started yet!)

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age? We want a girl, under 12 months old.

3. From where are you planning to adopt? Guatemala

4. How long have you been waiting? We have just decided to go through with adoption, so we haven't 'officially' begun waiting yet. But we've been wanting to adopt since we first got married, and it's now been over 3 years!

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting? That I won't be the best mother I can possibly be for my little girl. I want to love, understand, cherish and nurture her as much as I possibly and humanly can. Lofty ambitions, I know!

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one? That she will grow up to be an amazing person who will embrace life with the zest and zeal that her dad (my DH) does.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far? Haven't been matched yet! Can't wait for that day, though!!

[quiescentfury]

1. What is your family make-up now?
Maureen - Caucasian
DH, Harry - Caucasian
DS, Cory - Biracial, Maureens Bio son and Harry's step son.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
Either gender 0 - 2

3. From where are you planning to adopt?
US

4. How long have you been waiting?
1 Month

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
Adjusting to a new baby. It has been six years since I was in baby mode

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
That he or she will grow to be a confident caring person that knows they are loved.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far?
No match yet, still waiiting.

[haningin]

1. What is your family makeup?
Myself, DH, 1 cat & 1 Dog

2.Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
no preference, newborn

3. from where are you planning to adopt?
Domestically

4. How long have you been waiting?
Officially 1 year, 10 months. unofficially 3-4 years. (we procrastincate)

5.What is your biggest fear about adopting?
failed adoption, and no one will pick us

6.What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
for them to be happy and have a good life with alot of love and support in it!

7. How many times have you been mached? What has your experience been like so far?
none, It's been a long wait, it can be depressing at times.

Karen

[dawnr]

1. What is your family make-up now? Myself and my partner -- we are two moms in waiting -- plus Tick, the cat, who I think is ambivalent and waiting only for her dinner and a little love.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
We are hoping to adopt a sibling group of 2 or 3 (hopefully 3!) under the age of 7.

3. From where are you planning to adopt?
WA State foster care system

4. How long have you been waiting?
Our homestudy was approved 11/2/05. We are currently waiting for our foster care license, and our first meeting with our private agency placement social worker on 12/2/05 to begin the match process.

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
That we won't have all of the skills our children may need in their parents.

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
That they will grow to be happy, healthy loving people who believe that can be or do anything they aspire to.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far?
None.

[definitelyjulia]

1. What is your family make-up now?
Just the two of us and two adorable fur kids and an 11 year old parakeet!

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age? Either a boy or a girl and newborn

3. From where are you planning to adopt? In the U.S. hopefully here in CA

4. How long have you been waiting? Since I was about 7 years old. LOL We started the process in May and our homestudy wasn't completed until October.

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting. That as soon as we add one baby I'll want 10 more. Oh wait that's my husband's biggest fear. hmm That we won't be chosen is my biggest fear I suppose.

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one? That they grow up to become happy, healthy, loving members of our community.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far? We have only had one expectant mother contact us saying she wanted to match with us but never called our agency.

[moonbeam23]

Husband jim, son Matthew

Waiting - I would love a girl

We have an attorney and are on parentprofiles

Biggest fear(s) - that it won't happen, take a looong time, or that it will fail

Greatest hope is that the child will be happy and healthy and have a great bond with my son

We've been advertising since the beginning of August

We had quite a few false leads, learning not to get excited until it's real!!

Good luck to us all!!!!

[AwaitingBeloved]

ooh, this will be fun!

1. What is your family make-up now? DH and Me, with our two cats, Jangle and Lilo.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age? Either sex, infant.

3. From where are you planning to adopt? Domestic

4. How long have you been waiting? Seems like forever, started the process in February, officially "waiting" since April. So, 7 months now.

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting. My biggest fear about adopting is that it won't happen

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one? My greatest hope is that our child will grow up feeling loved, by us, and their birthparents.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far? We've been matched a few times already. Though, not a bite since our match fell through earlier this month. It's been up and down, some days are okay, other days have been brutal. Thanksgiving was very hard. I never imagined I'd be someone who felt so sad at the holidays. Let's hope Christmas is better!

[Gadoptmom]

1. What is your family make-up now?
Me, DH, DS 17, DD 13-1/2, DS 2-1/2

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
infant, either gender

3. From where are you planning to adopt?
Domestically

4. How long have you been waiting?
We just switched to domestic so only a couple of weeks.

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
That it won't work out.

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
I hope they grow up to be proud and confident of who they are. I hope they are really happy with themselves and their life and feel very loved.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far?
We haven't been matched yet.

[Michigan_Mom]

1. What is your family make-up now?
-I've been with my husband for 10 years and married for 7. We have a 3 year old biological daughter and a cat named Domino.

2. Are you waiting for a boy or girl and what age?
-My husband wants another little girl, I don't care either way; aged 0 - 4

3. From where are you planning to adopt?
-Foster care in Michigan

4. How long have you been waiting?
-Just started the process, going for an intake meeting next month and training will start after that

5. What is your biggest fear about adopting.
-The wait, as well as a child not wanting to bond with us as we want to bond with them.

6. What is your greatest hope for your future little one?
-To be loved, appreciated and told on a daily basis how wonderful they are. I would like him/her to grow up feeling happy & safe, and have an incredible life.

7. How many times have you been matched? What has been your experience been like so far?

-N/A