Splash!

I am officially in the "pool"--the waiting pool, that is (or wading pool may be equally as fitting). My profile can now be viewed by one and all from the agency's web page, http://www.openadopt.org/ , under Parent Profiles link. So, now the world will know that I am an enthusiastic mom-to-be! Ah, just one person I have yet to tell.....my manager at work ! It is complex since this may not happen for two years so I am still playing this one out in my head--particularly the "when" part. I just know that once my office hears word, they'll continuously be asking about the status and I will not have an answer for them, until I get THE call. (Which reminds me, I had another dream recently that my counselor called me in the afternoon and said I needed to be at the hospital by 4 pm, as a baby had just been delivered). So, the wading pool now includes approx. 50 other couples and two singles. One single woman recently took herself off the list after two years of waiting, and has now adopted a baby from Guatemala. I am determined to go the domestic route and will continue to approach different avenues. For example, I recently contacted a private adoption attorney in Seattle area who assisted with an adoption for some friends of mine from DC, and they highly recommended him. So, I plan to send him some materials in the next week, fill out more paperwork and hopefully be in his "pool" by the end of July. Just keeping all options open. It helps that my counseler at OAFS has been incredibly supportive and while my preference would be to adopt through their agency because of the extensive support and services they provide to birthmothers, the chances are slim, given all the couples they are working with. So, wading, waiting, wading... it will be. With summer upon us, I have my list of fun explorations (sailing, backpacking, biking, reading, yoga, etc.) that I want to do and then those dear home projects---such as preparing my second bedroom. I also want to spend as much time with wee little ones to give me a chance to 'practice' the role of new mom and to learn from new parents. So, if I am wise, I'll use this waiting period to its full advantage. Yes, if I am wise.....