Today's post goes hand in hand with my recent post about spending some time preparing your home during your wait between referral and travel. However, nesting is an interesting creature and I felt it deserved its very own little spotlight.

The term “nesting” is most often used in relation to pregnant women who nest, or prepare their home for their babies while still in utero. I know first hand that nesting applies to all parents expecting a child, and as adoptive parents we... more

Has your house never before been graced by the wandering hands of a curious toddler? Will this be your first experience having a child in your family or has it been some time since you’ve had a baby in the house? Regardless of your situation, the adoption process provides you with the opportunity to spend some time readying your house and learning about appropriate baby proofing techniques.

Part of preparing your home, to me, includes preparing the animals that share your home. I wrote a post... more

It’s virtually impossible to learn too much. When embarking into the world of adoption; especially for the first time, education is vital. To be the best parent you can be and help your child succeed, it is important to learn all you can about the adoption process and parenting your child. It is also a great idea to educate yourself about your child’s birth country, so you can share the information with them when they are old enough to understand.

While you are waiting for that joyful day that you board the plane that will take you to your child, take some time to read,... more

After you receive your referral and send in your acceptance paperwork, everything in your world will change. You are no longer “adopting a child.” You are now adopting a specific child who has a name and a story and an adorable face and you can’t get to them for months. I remember that wait and it was not easy, but as you continue to wait for what seems like an endless period of time, try and focus on using your time constructively. I know, I know – easier said than done, but having something else to focus on really can help.

Based on the feedback of transracial adoptees living in the US, it is extremely important to provide your child with opportunities to interact with members of... more

This week I’ve decided to write a few posts about how to make it through the wait between accepting your referral and traveling to adopt your child. When I realized that this time last year I was deep in the midst of that waiting cycle, it brought back so many memories. My memories are a little blurred due to all the new memories that I’ve been given since we met Ella, but I completely remember the emotions behind waiting. There were times I was calm and times I was a raving lunatic who was going to start walking (and swimming) to Viet Nam. I completely understand the stresses and... more