Today we started the adoption journey by beginning our home study. So I know you're probably thinking just what I was, "What the heck is a home study?" Well, in short, the home study is to verify that our home will be a safe, loving environment for the baby to grow in. The process consists of about 3 to 4 weeks, and involves completing all paper work including: background checks, income verification, health insurance proof, etc. Basically this verifies to the government that you do not have a criminal record and have weighed all the costs of adoption. Just a word to the wise, "Your social worker is a huge asset so choose wisely!"
Also, I wanted to take a second to let you guys know the kind of adoption we are walking through. It's called an "open adoption." An open adoption, unlike a closed adoption, means that we will have full contact with the birth mom after she has chosen us as her match. We will walk through the final months of pregnancy with her. This is a very delicate relationship as you probably would imagine, but after talking with several friends and our social worker it's the better of the two options. Why? First, place yourself in the shoes of the birth mom. How would you feel about placing your child into he hands of someone you never met and trusting them with their life? That's pretty heavy, right? Well this is exactly how most adoptions went pre-2000 in a process called closed adoption. The open option enables the mom to rest at peace with the adoptive parents she has chosen and remain in contact at their disgression. The second reason we chose an open adoption is having access to the birth mom regarding family medical history, temperaments, and possibly any patterns in life style. This information will enable us to better parent our child! The last and most important reason we want to pursue an open adoption is because we want our child to know the story of their birth mom. We want Baby Dew to understand that his/her birth mom is truly a hero for the decision she made.
So are there risks involved in adoption? Yes, most certainly. While adopting you are dealing with both the risks that any pregnancy/birth bring, alongside the legalities of being approved custody. Fortunately for us, the state of Louisiana does a good job of protecting adoptive parents in this process. After the papers are signed post pregnancy, there are no opportunities to reassert parenthood assuming all parties have given up their parental rights previously.
Here's where we need your help!!!!! Please help us cover these areas in prayer as we continue in the journey:
1. A healthy birth mom and baby (the perfect match)
2. Wisdom in networking (right agencies/timing)
3. Financial breakthrough as we begin raising all fees involved
4. That Ashlee gets me ice cream for writing this....okay,okay jk!
LOVE YOU GUYS, YA'LL ARE BLOWING US AWAY BY YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT!! -Grant
Also, I wanted to take a second to let you guys know the kind of adoption we are walking through. It's called an "open adoption." An open adoption, unlike a closed adoption, means that we will have full contact with the birth mom after she has chosen us as her match. We will walk through the final months of pregnancy with her. This is a very delicate relationship as you probably would imagine, but after talking with several friends and our social worker it's the better of the two options. Why? First, place yourself in the shoes of the birth mom. How would you feel about placing your child into he hands of someone you never met and trusting them with their life? That's pretty heavy, right? Well this is exactly how most adoptions went pre-2000 in a process called closed adoption. The open option enables the mom to rest at peace with the adoptive parents she has chosen and remain in contact at their disgression. The second reason we chose an open adoption is having access to the birth mom regarding family medical history, temperaments, and possibly any patterns in life style. This information will enable us to better parent our child! The last and most important reason we want to pursue an open adoption is because we want our child to know the story of their birth mom. We want Baby Dew to understand that his/her birth mom is truly a hero for the decision she made.
So are there risks involved in adoption? Yes, most certainly. While adopting you are dealing with both the risks that any pregnancy/birth bring, alongside the legalities of being approved custody. Fortunately for us, the state of Louisiana does a good job of protecting adoptive parents in this process. After the papers are signed post pregnancy, there are no opportunities to reassert parenthood assuming all parties have given up their parental rights previously.
Here's where we need your help!!!!! Please help us cover these areas in prayer as we continue in the journey:
1. A healthy birth mom and baby (the perfect match)
2. Wisdom in networking (right agencies/timing)
3. Financial breakthrough as we begin raising all fees involved
4. That Ashlee gets me ice cream for writing this....okay,okay jk!
LOVE YOU GUYS, YA'LL ARE BLOWING US AWAY BY YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT!! -Grant
WILL baby dew be a boy or girl?
Shout out to my mom for getting these super-cute outfits and for also having this FABULOUS idea! Will Baby Dew be a BOY or GIRL? If you read our last post, you know that we did not put a preference on gender. With that being said, we'd like to ask YOU! In efforts to raise money, anytime a donation is made we ask that the donation come along with a "vote" of what you think the gender will be. The "votes" will reflect the amount of money raised. For example, if you donate $10 and vote for a boy, then the Baby Boy Team now has $10! For those who have already donated, we'll be reaching out to you soon to ask for your "vote" on Baby Dew! As money is raised, we'll be sure to keep a tally and let you know as we post. This is going to be so FUN! -Ashlee
Gifts for the holidays!
Aren't these the cutest?! I'm selling these to raise money for the adoption!
The first is the "Ouch Pouch". If you have kiddos, you need this! The Ouch Pouch is made to go in a purse, diaper bag, console of the van, or even in your gym bag! Shout-out to all those mommas who are taking care of the family AND making it to the gym! And for those mommas who can't find the time or energy to make it to the gym, how about going for a walk 20 minutes a day? YOU CAN DO IT! OK... back to the pouch! This pouch comes with a variety of things inside to help assist in the times of "mini" emergencies. These emergencies could be, and are not limited to, a bandaid for the scraped elbow, a tissue for the runny nose, a wipe for the sticky hands, Tylenol for the headache, and more!
The second item for sale, is my handmade "Jewelry Pouch". PERFECT for a gift. One year I made these for my girlfriends and put a piece of jewelry inside each one. These bags come with little compartments inside to help keep your jewelry nice and tidy! I love using this when traveling. All the bags are the same size, but come in many different material patterns. If you decide to purchase one and I need to mail it to you, it will be a surprise as to what the pattern design will be. Rest assured, I would not choose a pattern I wouldn't want myself!
Both are $15 each! You can enjoy the pouch and the fact that you've helped Grant and I get one step closer to Finding Baby Dew!!
How to Order:
You can make the purchase on our GoFundMe account! If you live in Baton Rouge, we can arrange a pickup for the items! Simply click the link below, make the $15 donation, and in the GoFundMe comments be sure to leave your name, number, and the item you'd like.
If you're needing this mailed to you click the link below, make an $18 donation ($15 for the pouch and $3 shipping), and in the GoFundMe comments be sure to leave your name, address and the item you'd like! If you order more than one item, the shipping will only be $3 total.
The first is the "Ouch Pouch". If you have kiddos, you need this! The Ouch Pouch is made to go in a purse, diaper bag, console of the van, or even in your gym bag! Shout-out to all those mommas who are taking care of the family AND making it to the gym! And for those mommas who can't find the time or energy to make it to the gym, how about going for a walk 20 minutes a day? YOU CAN DO IT! OK... back to the pouch! This pouch comes with a variety of things inside to help assist in the times of "mini" emergencies. These emergencies could be, and are not limited to, a bandaid for the scraped elbow, a tissue for the runny nose, a wipe for the sticky hands, Tylenol for the headache, and more!
The second item for sale, is my handmade "Jewelry Pouch". PERFECT for a gift. One year I made these for my girlfriends and put a piece of jewelry inside each one. These bags come with little compartments inside to help keep your jewelry nice and tidy! I love using this when traveling. All the bags are the same size, but come in many different material patterns. If you decide to purchase one and I need to mail it to you, it will be a surprise as to what the pattern design will be. Rest assured, I would not choose a pattern I wouldn't want myself!
Both are $15 each! You can enjoy the pouch and the fact that you've helped Grant and I get one step closer to Finding Baby Dew!!
How to Order:
You can make the purchase on our GoFundMe account! If you live in Baton Rouge, we can arrange a pickup for the items! Simply click the link below, make the $15 donation, and in the GoFundMe comments be sure to leave your name, number, and the item you'd like.
If you're needing this mailed to you click the link below, make an $18 donation ($15 for the pouch and $3 shipping), and in the GoFundMe comments be sure to leave your name, address and the item you'd like! If you order more than one item, the shipping will only be $3 total.