Category Archives: Adoption Preparation This week is all about preparing to leave—we’ve packed donation bins…we’ve got the hair butter and special shampoo for Mr.Isaac’s sweet and perfect curls…and now it’s time to prepare Mr.Mom for 7 days with the kids. As most of you know, Rico Suave (aka: Rich, Richard, the hubby) is staying back with the kids while […]  Happy Father’s Day to the daddies in my life!!! To my dad…who does sweet and meaningful things like plant a tree for each grandchild to grow along side them…who plays non-stop with our kids when you are in town…and who NEVER lets me forget a story of my childhood and loves retelling stories over and […] Precious post! wow, five days!! Just a suggestion from someone who just traveled to Ethiopia 3 weeks ago with tubs just like yours…have your hubby drill holes in the sides and the lids and zip tie them closed. Then tape extra zip ties in a baggie on the under side of the lid and that way if they cut them off to inspect (which was done to ours on the way there AND back), they (or you) can just stick a new zip tie through the hole… it worked well for us, anyway. I’m excited for you, safe travels, I pray God will open your eyes and heart while you’re there, it’s amazing.  Just 6 more days until we board the plane! Seriously I’m getting SO excited! (If you missed my friend Christina’s video…you have to see it in the previous post—I seriously called my sister after I saw it to ask her if I should get a perm. Seriously–to have Christina’s hair in Ethiopia would be a […] I can not wait for you, NEXT weekend!!! Andrea ~ NEXT WEEK END!!!! Aw, how fun. I’m impressed with the bedding! I need to learn how to make that. SO much fun!!! Praying for those 6 days to be fun, and can’t wait to see you with Isaac!! Andrea–I found your blog through Addie. Small world…her cousins in Oklahoma are my cousins. At a family gathering last Christmas she gave me your website because I was starting up a photography business. I never got around to visiting your site, until recently. Your blog has been a blessing to me. My husband and I are in the process of adopting siblings from Uganda. I look forward to following your journey to Africa and bring home Isaac! What a fun, girl-filled day! Can’t wait to see the post of Isaac in your arms!!! Countin’ down with you girlfriend! 😉 girl, you got some talent going on over there with crib bedding making! Are you on Etsy? B/c we ordered ours on etsy from a lady who makes them, that could possibly help raise any more adoption money you might need now or in the future! :0) Turn off music above before watching this beautiful family’s video on bringing home their baby girl from Ethiopia… 7 more days:) beautiful! Can’t wait to watch Isaac’s video! Beautiful!! I love watching these … and I can not wait to see what your journey will be and what video/photos/message you will bring home to share. What an honor to have our video posted on my favorite blog! Thanks so much for sharing it with your many readers! Counting down the days with you and so excited about your trip–I know your thoughts and experiences are going to be so beautifully written and photographed–can hardly wait for your Ethiopia posts! Next week, Andrea! NEXT WEEK! Whoo Hoo! i’m crying happy tears! and andrea, in seven days, YES, just a short SEVEN DAYS, this will be you and precious little Isaac. Mommy & son forever. WOW!!! What a beautiful video and a precious child!! I cry my eyes out every time I watch one of these…and love every minute of it! 😉 7 MORE DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, love, love following your blog everyday Andrea and the anticipation of seeing YOUR “gotcha” video is killing me. Oh I just love that video…cried and cried…makes me so excited to bring Caroline Faith home! And so excited that you only have 7 more days! As we prepare for travel–we want to invest more time in preparing our plan for attachment for our Isaac. Think of it as when you got married and desired to prepare more for the marriage than the wedding. Richard and I have spent almost a year reading attachment books, praying for the Lord to guide […] I like “plans” and “lists” a lot and I really appreciate this post. I’m doing lots of reading and research on attachment and have been feeling overwhelmed. Your summary is helping me break things down a bit. And I am reminding myself that I don’t have to be in control or worry because our Lord and Savior will guide us as we continue in our adoption journey just as He has led us to this point of waiting. Thanks Andrea, you have a great perspective. I’m looking forward to more insight from you as you bring your babe home. Praying for you in the coming weeks. Karee Encouraging you to continue the focus and see the big picture as you cocoon and settle in for this new adventure. You can do this, your older children can do this, it is meant to be. Wishing you days of joy and nights of peace. =) i love this and I am so excited to hear how your bonding goes when you bring Isaac home! I have a question for you, we are adopting an infant first here in the states and it will be just 3 days old when he/she comes home with us! Should we develop a plan of bonding similar to that or would it be way less since we have the baby since practically birth? I would love your thoughts on this! I definitely plan on trying to do as much as I can to bond! Oh April–I think your attachment will be much different and easier because you are establishing a healthy bond and connection from the beginning. Because a newborn DOES sense his/her mommy because of being in the womb–if I were you I would consider not letting anyone else hold your infact for 2-3 weeks. I would also encourage LOTS of skin to skin contact–especially during feedings. I would even let the baby nap on your chest for the first few months (a baby’s brain is unable to establish a schedule until 3 months according to the author of “Healthy Sleep Habits”…so I would ax the scheduling and let the baby sleep on your chest to bond with you and know your heartbeat for the first 3 months. MUCH easier–but still intentional:) Sounds like a wonderful, well thought out plan, and I think you are wise to post about this and educate/warn:) friends and family before you get home. Hoping you will be posting LOTS of pictures of your peanut:) Great plan, Andrea!!! We had/have an almost identical plan, and at 5 months home, Bethlehem is doing well and according to our SW is right where she should be attachment-wise! I’ll be praying for you as you work to transition little Isaac into his forever family and help him form a secure, healthy attachment to you. I also haven’t forgotten the lotion/massage oil stuff I’m sending you – my last batch, which I was going to send you part of was a complete flop due to a certain small child who woke up from her nap in the middle of it and threw off the delicate balance of lotion making! 😉 Wow!! Sounds like a great plan! I am going to have to remember this when we get close to bringing Caroline Faith home! Can’t wait until you get to hold him- SOON!!!!!! Counting down the days with you 🙂 Great post that I will direct to one more family prayerfully considering adoption from ET! Hey friend! Love seeing the plan all mapped out. It always helps me to write things down when I feel overwhelmed. Isaac is going to love his family so much, you are such a sweet, selfless, intentional momma! Thanks so much for posting this Andrea! This is a great plan and so well thought out. I too, need to be thinking in this direction on how to handle it all when we get home…one day! I am so excited for you I can hardly stand it!!!! Can’t wait!! ANDREA!!! This is so awesome! Your long-time dream is finally coming true! i’m so very happy for the Young family and will definately be praying for ya’ll. I love you friend and can’t wait to hear more about Isaac’s arrival! Wow Andrea this is intense. You weren’t kidding. But, I am excited you and Richard have a plan and you are both on board. I would love to help by taking Laney and Parker places too, so they won’t be stuck in the house so much. I heard you were making crib bedding tomorrow! It doesn’t surprise me a bit! Oh, and FBC is going to do most of our shots. Thanks for advising me to go there! Praying for fast attachment with Isaac! This is amazing, Andrea. I have never visited your blog, but deceided to once I saw your last Life Path email with the upcoming details of your Isaac trip. The whole story is amazing along with your photos, your creativity, your family and your faith in Christ. I just love it. It is so inspiring. I would love to spend time getting to know you guys better… you can just see all the life your family brings the world. I will be praying for you guys…… Love, […] some times–a good social playdate is all the help you need! (But more visitors? Oh, but your cocoon plan said to limit visitors…which brings me to number […] |
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Does Rich have a camera ready for that first lost tooth? Praying for you to have a safe and wonderful trip.
Your outfits in bags reminds me of the time I ribbon tied my toddler girl’s hangers of outfits together and labeled for the time she spent with my parents while I was in the hospital giving birth (planned csection) to baby brother. I so relate! =) What a fun week of preparing.
What a GREAT idea! Love how it is in the crib for the count down! I will be praying for you/Isaac and Daddy/Frank bonding. The Lord will be so faithful to do more than you can even ask or imagine!!!!!
Jenny
You are SO CLOSE! We just got back from vacation and I have been back reading…I have CHILLS thinking about you leaving in just a couple of days! I’m thrilled for you! (And really hoping you might get to hold our little one???)
Can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Praying hard for you from here!
Jenn
Okay … I just LOVE Mama Judy’s idea. I hope I can pay it forward and play Mama Judy someday and steal this idea!
Counting down the days with you!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim