[Jaime Christine]

We had Melia home about 6 months before we started process again. It was my doing. Love my hubby- but he is not much of a decision maker in our household.

He now says (after the fact) that he is thankful that I took the reigns and gave him a beautiful family and he couldn't be happier.

[nannyisme2004]

My kids are three yrs and one week apart in age. My DD adoption took 27 months (I waited 18 months for referral). My DS took 10 months. I waited 39 months before I started process, but started researching a yr after DD came home. It was totally God's timing. My DD had attachment issues and health challenges. There was no way I could have started the process sooner. And as much as my heart wanted to start the process for DS sooner than later my DD and I needed all that bonding time. And I cherish the time it was just her and I (I am single). Everything changes when you have two. It is good, but it is so different going from one to two (and I have really good kids). It is an exciting time thinking about adopting for a second time. Many blessings to you.

[wvamom]

We adopted about 2 1/2 years apart, and our boys are 2 years apart. The second adoption was much easier to persuade dh to do than the first--he said, "Well, if I'm going to be 60 by the time Joseph is out of the house, what's 62 with another one?"

The key, I think, for us, was that dh was not attracted to the idea of adoption itself, but to a particular child. I brought him ds's pic from a photolisting--he was dx with a particular health issue and so was on the agency's photolisting. I laugh when I think about the fears I had about that health issue now--our challenges have not been from physical DISability but from being TOO mobile!

Anyway, once dh saw our son's picture, he was able to begin to imagine having another child (for us, our fifth).

Good luck!

[Guatemom]

We brought Connor home in Feb '05; by Oct that year, we had accepted the referral of a much older child. That adoption fell thru miserably in '06, and we began again for Cristian in '07.

[dovelu]

We brought Lucy home in January of '06 (it will be 3 years next week) and started the process for Veronica in June of that same year (5 mos. later). My girls are almost exactly a year apart. My (bio) son is about a decade older than them, which is why we really didn't want to wait. Dh was a little overwhelmed with the idea at first (mostly the $), but he got on board pretty quick.

Amy

[LisaAnn1170]

How long? Too long! DS will likely be 6 when #2 comes home. If the wait weren't so long in the IA world these days, they'd be closer in age.

[Guatemom]

I forgot to add Adrian coming home (which I am keeping the faith that he will this year!): He turns 3 in March. So Connor will be 5 this year, Adrian will be 3, and Cristian turn 2. Whew! Stairstepping ages I guess