[wenrl]

So, we are waiting to adopt an older girl (over 5) through the foster care system. She will be our second. We have been waiting a month or two and have been told it will be a fast process this time due to our experience and blah blah blah.

I am an artist/designer/photographer and I make personalized Christmas cards every year. I get so excited about it, they are usually done by now. I always mail them out the day after Thanksgiving. But, now I am scared. I keep thinking that as soon as I go through all the effort and expense and probably even mail them out, our new child will arrive and feel left out of the family immediately. Also, this year my mom is asking for 8x10 family photographs for Christmas and I am also scared to start work on this for the same reason.

How lame a concern is that? Anyone else putting things off thinking the new one will arrive any day?

[jillned]

Thank goodness someone else feels the way I do . Although in my case, I'm hoping to have a new little one by the holidays. We don't even have any potential matches but I can hope! It worked out nice last year becasue I was able to do a birth announcment/holiday card combo. I usually have these things started by now as well, but am hoping for #2 to be here soon.

[mckenna]

i say send the christmas cards, even if you have a 2cd child, she won't know her name was not on the cards as they will be sent before she arrives.

there are a lot of prof. photo places now that have photos immediatly or in an hour. wait awhile on the photo.

funny you should post this today, as last night i got out our christmas cards and started to sign them. i really had hoped i would be closer to the adoption of my foster daughter by christmas and i felt a little strange signing the name she will have after adoption (even though that is what we have called her since the day she came home)

[Lorraine123]

My parents asked for a family photo shortly before my daughter came home. I had them wait. I didn't want a picture of our family hanging up without her in it. As for Christmas cards - those I think you could send. She probably would not even realize it. Its not as obvious as a photo hanging up.

[akcskye]

If you're a designer...how about Photoshopping in a Girl Shaped sillouhette (sp?) in the family photo?

It could be made into like a film design...and you could call it the "XXXX family Christmas" mini-series and design it like a film strip, "now starring....X, X, X, X and introducing...X coming soon"

That way, people know your family is not complete, and the child will know they were in the process of being chosen and included in the family?

That's a toughie...best of luck!

[blessedbybug]

I would go ahead and send the cards... as a part of it, attach a note that your hopes are that you will be adding to your family soon. I know it's a lot of work, but how special would she feel if you sent out a pic of her, announcing her official arrival??? This waiting game is so hard, but I live with the theory that you go with what you know...if it changes, so be it... hoping your Holidays are special with a new little girl in your family!