New year!

As 2013 comes to an end we are hopeful of what the new year will bring. Brent and I know that now the waiting game begins. It can be a month a year or more before we are chosen by a birthmother. We both have the highest hope that it will be sooner than later and we thank everyone again for the support. Please keep us in your thoughts that we get our new addition sooner than later.  Thank you again so much for all the love in the past few months.   

We got our first onesie. It really made us so happy and I definatly got emotional. We love you Tiffany and Ashley Chen.  

Doug and I can't wait to share our first Christmas with a new one. Our child will have lots of family to celebrate holidays like Christmas! Happy Holidays everyone and thanks for keeping up with our posts!

Merry Christmas Everyone! Thank you so much for the support. 

Well we had one more step in the Home study which came up yesterday. We both are so ready for this to be complete. Our stress level is so high but we are thinking positive thoughts and know that this is all so worth it.  It is defiantly so amazing to know we have so much support out there because seriously without that it would really make this process so much more stressful.  

Making last minute changes to our portfolio. We are so excited. We can't wait to share with everyone. You are amazing Tiffany Chen! 

2014 so excited!

Hello All,

Brent and I are getting so exited for 2014. We have had so much going on the last 3 months getting our home study complete.  Which we have officially passed!  We are finishing up our portfolio and should be out in the pool by January.  This has been a very stressful and exciting time. We have just had such amazing support from our family and friends and it makes us realize we are so lucky. We know we will be bringing a baby into our lives which is surrounded by so much love. Again thank you for understanding and being there for us well we take this journey. Much love. 

https://www.facebook.com/ProudParenting/posts/10151811210275732

Hello everyone!  Well we are getting so close to be out in the pool. We are almost finished with our portfolio. Then we will start the waiting game. I am still feeling so excited everyday. It is so surreal that this time next year we could be parents. Here's to hoping and praying that we match with a birthmother sooner than later. Again thank you so much for all the great support. 

Tree is up! Hoping that next year our new addition will be here to share the holidays with us.

Our dogs are ready for us to have a new playmate for them.

Last week was a busy week for Doug and myself. We spend about 4 hours on Tuesday with one-on-one interviews with the Social Worker as one of the last steps in our Home Study. After that was completed, we scheduled our actual home visit with the Social Worker for this past Saturday. We spent the rest of the week making sure our house was up to par for the visit. Verified our smoke/carbon monoxide detectors were working, that our fire extinguisher was working, moved all dangerous substances out of the reach of children, etc. I am happy to announce that with all of the paper work, background checks, autobiographies, interviews, financial verifications, home visits we have passed our Home Study. The social worker is writing it up now and we should be in the waiting pool by January. Doug and I are super excited to be through this part of our journey. All we have left to do is complete the design of our Dear Birthmother Letter and that will be completed over the next couple of weeks thanks to our awesome graphic designer, Tiffany Chen.

Overjoyed!

Interviews went great last night and we already have our house visit Saturday. This home study is really getting close to completion. Feeling overjoyed today. 

Heading to one of our final home study interviews. Wow we are so close to having our home study complete. 

Quinn loves Brent.

Fun times hanging with Sidney.

Final interviews!

Next week Brent and I have our final home study interviews. We are getting so close to where we will be available for our future birthmother to choose us. This is really happening I seriously have to tell my self you are not dreaming this is happening.  You really need to cherish life everyday and I am so thankful for my family and friends everyday.  I know the waiting game will begin but I am just ready to meet our future child and start our new chapter in life. 

New portfolio pic!

As each week passes we get closer and closer to having our home study complete. We are about to have individual interviews with our agency. I guess I need to prep Brent on what to say.. LOL We have also submitted our first Dear birthmother letters and are about to submit our pictures. Every day I just can’t believe how happy I am to start our family. I know we have only just begun our journey but I have to say I am getting that feeling of “Are we close yet” I know how I am and I thank goodness Brent can calm me down so that I can get through this.

It's national adoption month!

http://www.today.com/moms/choosing-adoption-series-airs-today-all-next-week-8C11507812

 I have just dropped off all our home study paperwork into the mail today! It will be at the agency and they can start digging through the information. This makes me happy and I know it is making Doug smile right now 

Happy Halloween!

Hopefully next year we will have a little one to dress up!

All smiles today

Well Brent and I have come so far in the past month and a half. We are finally ready to submit our home study. Next we are finishing up our birthmother letter and getting our portfolio pics together. Sometimes I just can't believe this is happening I really need to pinch myself once a day. I know I must be so annoying around everyone. I am so happy I can’t stop talking about our process. Loving Life today!!

Wish us luck!

Doug and I are really close in finishing all of the paperwork for our home study. We have written auto biographies, obtained letter of recommendations, pulled together financials, vet records, gotten fingerprinted twice. The only thing stands in the way is me getting a physical and drug tested on Friday. I can't believe we have been able to pull together so many documents in less than a months time. The hardest part thus far was writing the autobiography because I hate to all about myself. Next on the list is completing the actual home study and finishing the Dear Birthmother Letter... Wish us luck!

Physical Examination

Tomorrow is my full Physical Exam which is one of the last steps in our Home Study. We still have a long road ahead but wow we are on display. I feel you defiantly need to look at yourself like a piece of real estate. We need to make sure everything is in good repair and we have to make sure every detail is written out and visible so that a sale can be made. I know not everyone has to go through this to have a child. We will do whatever it takes so that we can start our family. I just look at it like we just have a few extra hurdles but in the end it is our new child to be that makes me smile every day.

One Month Later

Brent and I started our adventure a month ago. It is crazy to think how much we have gone through in this short amount of time. We have had FBI checks, GBI checks, Employment verifications, health history explored. We have had our amazing friends and family write letters of recommendation for us. Thanks Kara, Greg, Kari and the girls we love you. Brent and I have filled out home study questionnaires and written autobiographies. This is just a small amount of what we have completed. We have also completed a two day seminar where we got to meet with other couples who are in the same position as we are. I will admit it is great to know you are not the only one experiencing this journey. I also love all the support we have gotten from around the world it really truly has been amazing. I know we have a roller coaster ride of emotion still about to happen. I am excited to share the good the bad and the in between. I will always be honest with my feelings and thoughts of our process. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime throughout this journey. And we continue to the next……………

Heading to New Orleans

Brent and I are heading to New Orleans this weekend. This makes me so excited for the day we can take our child to our home away from home. It will be amazing to take our child to their first parade and show them all this city has to offer. So many people don't realize that there is so much more to New Orleans than Mardi Gra. This city and everyone that lives there have so much pride in New Orleans. I know our child will be able to see the culture and amazing sites with us someday. I am getting so anxious to begin our life with our new little one.

Portfolio Time

Happy Monday! Brent and I are finishing up all our paperwork and beginning to work on our portfolio. We are going through hundreds of pictures and also getting ready to take a few more to have as many options as possible. Hey I love a good photo shoot so this works for me. We are also working on birthmother letters and writing about our life together. I tell you this is defiantly overwhelming sometimes. I must say Brent and I have a lot of support and it has been amazing. It’s still so crazy sometimes how my life is about to change I consider myself a very social person. I know my life will be turned completely upside down and you know something I am ready. Thank you again for all the great words of wisdom and kind thoughts. We are so ready to start our family. Brent and I know there are so many people going through the exact same process. We are here to support anyone else going through this journey it is always great to have a support system. This is just one story and there are so many current and future amazing Real Modern Dads out there.

"The Kid"

Today I finished one of the books the agency asked us to read. The book was "The Kid" by Dan Savage. It walked though his and his partners process of completing their open adoption. I have to say, even if I wasn't going through the process now, I would read the book. It kept me entertained from start to finish. I warn you though the book can be a little crude at times, but I think that is part of the reason I stayed entertained.

Working that Home Study

Doug and I are working through each of the items on our Home Study list. There are so many items, that it looks intimidating. However, we figured we could do one or two a night and knock them out by the end of the Month. Yesterday, we were able to complete our Adoption Questionnaire. At first glance, it looked pretty easy, but then I started to worry about if my answers were wrong. Would the a...gency not like the answers? Would we be removed from the agency if I "failed" my questions? Finally, I went ahead and just answered the questions the way I believe and hopefully, I will pass the "test". I guess I can check this item off of the list! Yeppie – Progress Just so you can have a glimpse of the questions, here they are: 1. How would you describe yourself? 2. Describe your spouse’s/partner’s personality and strengths. What would your change? 3. If you have children, describe their personalities, likes and dislikes. 3a. What steps have you taken to prepare your child for an adopted child in coming into the home? 4. What do you feel are the strong points in your marriage/relationship? 4a. What type of goals do you work toward in your marriage/relationship? 4b. What are usually the areas of disagreement? How do you handle problems and conflicts? 5. Please give a brief statement describing your thoughts about religion and its place in your life. 6. If you are childless, what experiences have you had with children? 7. How do you (or how do you plan to) discipline your children? Give examples. 7a. Define discipline: 7b. Define misbehavior: 7c. What is the difference between discipline and abuse? 8. What aspects of childrearing are important to you? 8a. Do you and your spouse/partner agree on childrearing and discipline? 9. What do you expect from your child? 10. What goals do you wish your child to achieve? 11. Why are you applying for adoptions? 11a. Do both of you wish to adopt? 12. What have been your parents’ response to adoption and response of friends and relatives?

Happy Hump Day

Brent and I are working through the Home Study for our agency. I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is so crazy to think of how much we have to go through to start our family. It is all so worth it and I can’t wait to meet our birthmother. Well once we are chosen . I know how I am and I am going to have to learn how to chill, and let the process happen the way it is supposed to. It may take a month or it may take a year. In the end we will have our family and it will be so worth it. Now I am taking the time to relax and enjoy each experience as it comes. One thing now that I am also doing is reading books and if you know me I will take the movie over the book anytime. LOL … So hey it’s a growing experience look at me..

Real modern dads like this give Brent and I the chance to start our family.

Getting it done.....

Lots to do this week. Stay tuned and again thank you for all the support. 

We finished our two day workshop so excited for our next steps.

Adoption workshop

We are getting great information today! The only thing is our list of to do's is getting longer. The competitive person in me is Coming out. 

Our Next Step begins Tomorrow

Brent and I start our two day Adoption workshop tomorrow. We both are just so happy right now and at the same time it is so surreal. We have been planning this process for so many years and the fact that we can actually say we are in the process is just amazing. It is so crazy how much information is needed to complete our home study to get ready for birth mothers to reach out to us. We are staying focused and we both just keep smiling because we know the end result will be our family finally getting started. Thank you to all our family and friends everyone has been so support and it truly means the world to us. This really shows us how we have so many great people in our life and we can’t wait for them to meet our new little one.

Autobiography

It is really tough writing an autobiography about my life. But I have been going back to childhood and teen years in my head. I am thinking of things I have not thought of in years so in a way I feel this is great process thinking about my childhood. I get to think about family and friends who have come in and out of my life and also it is making me think of my future child’s life and all the experiences they will have as they grow up. I am so excited to see my child for the first time.

Brent

Doug

This week get to know who we are!

Doug and Brent 

Got my first books. Hmm now I am going to make it another goal to read cover to cover I normally have trouble getting through books but I will do this!

Doug and Brent - Ready get set go!

Hello Everyone! Well we are officially starting our open adoption process. It is so surreal for us right now. We have been wanting to start a family for years now and we finally can see light at the end of the tunnel. I know that we are going to have so many of ups and downs and if I know me I am just going to have to learn that it is going to take time and take it day by day. One thing I can say is that being a dad is something we both have always wanted and I know our life is going to change in so many ways and we are ready and we will take on all new experiences as they come. Thank you to everyone for joining us in our journey and I look forward to your comments and thoughts as we go through this process.

Thanks for Following our Process - Doug and Brent

Our dinning room is adoption central

We got FBI fingerprinted today. Wow the process begins. 

Real Modern Dads - Our Journey Begins!