Completely in love one minute? Weepy the next? Then frustrated out of your mind before you can even realize why? You just may be one of the many, many adoptive parents adjusting to life at home with their new child. In Vietnamese adoptions, adoptive parents stay in Viet Nam for a period of approximately three weeks. That is certainly enough time to get used to a different way of life, and returning home can be starling and leave you feeling conflicted more often than not.

Most of our first days home are a complete blur to me. I definitely think that sleep deprivation and jet... more

Coming home after spending multiple weeks in Viet Nam can be difficult. Of course, it is a huge relief to finally be home and able to officially start your new life as a family, but it can be really stressful too. In Viet Nam we didn’t have to cook, clean, drive, work or do laundry. We had practically unlimited time to figure out this parenting thing and do nothing but spend time with one another. Within a day or two of being home, the hugeness of being a parent really hit me and it took months for me to figure out a good groove for all of us to function in.

I was completely shocked... more

It’s exciting to see that National Adoption Awareness Month is being promoted nationwide. I have seen advertisements in my local newspaper, invitations to events being held by local adoption agencies, commercials on television and banners on various websites. Earlier today I was online and noticed a side banner for a series of documentaries on adoption produced by the Hallmark Channel. I was interested, so I clicked on it and wouldn’t you know it; they had an episode about a couple who adopted from Viet... more

One year ago our plane touched down at JFK airport in New York and we were finally on our own turf again. After a quick and easy process at the airport, Ella became a United States Citizen and we were unbelievably about to return to our home as a trio. It was a bit of a shock to return home to the states after spending so much time in Viet Nam. In Hanoi we got tons of attention and Ella was constantly admired and cooed at. In New York, no one gave us a second look. We had quickly become used to the Vietnamese hospitality and the stark contrast was startling to our jet lagged, sleep deprived... more

This time last year we were in a complete whirlwind unlike any my family and I had ever experienced. While moping in our hotel room in Hanoi we received word that Ella’s visa had been issued and we were free to go home! Our scheduled flight to the US was for the next day, but we were so desperate to get home that we went a little crazy to make it happen.

Two of our agency staff members and my husband jumped on their respective phones in different rooms of the hotel and scrambled to try and get our plane tickets switched so we could get on the next flight... more

I’m sure you’re going to be seeing lots of posts about it being National Adoption Awareness Month around here, because it’s something we all can celebrate! This national event started off as a way to increase awareness about the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system in the United States. It’s focus is still on adoption from foster care, but all adoptive families can spread awareness for adoption in general as well.

National Adoption Awareness Month started in 1990 and has been gaining steam ever since. As the number of adoptive families in our country... more

Well, Miss Ella got her first real taste of Halloween on Tuesday! Our town holds trick or treat on the day before Halloween due to a huge local Halloween parade on Halloween night. Throughout the day I tried to teach her how to say “trick or treat,” and got a few “twick tweet”s in return, but of course she had no idea why we were going to people’s houses and they were giving her sweets :)

We went to three neighbors houses and she actually carried her little pumpkin and everyone was so happy to see her; she was absolutely the cutest little cheerleader ever! At one house she tried... more

While doing some research on news coming out of Viet Nam this morning I stumbled across an article about the increasing preference of boys in Viet Nam. Margie Mason’s article “Vietnam’s Preference for Boys Tips Gender Scales in Asia” made me stop watching Jack’s Big Music Show with Ella and read the full article. The title drew me in and I thought my readers would like to hear about Mason’s article.

The article is a result of a report published by the United Nations stating that Viet Nam is becoming more like China and India; where boys are more... more

We did not purchase travel insurance when we traveled to Viet Nam to adopt Ella, but Sandra’s post reminded me that it’s something I wanted to look into for this adoption. Honestly, the only reason we didn’t get it last time was because I just could not wrap my head around researching another thing. I was curious about travel insurance and the necessity of it, so I did a little digging and here’s what I found.

Before leaving, travelers should contact their medical insurance companies to see what is (and is not) covered when you’re outside of the country. Also be sure to ask about coverage... more

Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) who are new to the adoption world can find our terminology overwhelming and confusing. In an effort to alleviate some of those feelings, I’m posting different glossaries that define terms commonly used in Viet Nam adoptions. If there are any terms of acronyms that you just can’t figure out, please let me know and I’ll do my best to find out for you. You can always comment below or email me at rebeccah@adoptionblogs.com

DOJ – the Department of Justice in your child’s province will examine your... more