PAID
Well... our payment has cleared the bank! It's official... we are on the books for an adoption!
When we met, in short time, the conversation was marriage, and then the next topic of conversation became "growing our family". We looked down many avenues to make this happen.
We considered a donor and carrying a tiny human ourselves. I knew I had successfully carried a baby on two different occasions with no complications, so maybe I could do it again (consideration: it was successful over 20 years ago - gasp). Amy is younger, though, so maybe it was worth considering her carrying - but even still, she's no spring chicken. Long story short, though, we decided there were too many risks, with our age being a major contributing factor.
Then we talked about foster to adopt. We talked to Durham County and Wake County agencies, and while we decided that was not the route we wished to pursue at this point, we have not taken it off the table for later on down the road.
We have opted to go with an adoption agency who works closely within the LGBTQ+ community. They work with expectant mothers, to pair them with individuals or couples.
So step one - we had to send them a check, and in return, they partner with us to create a six page, full color, glossy magazine brochure all about 'US' to share with expectant mothers. While we are working with the publishers, we are also working with a local social worker on our home study. This process is a bit daunting - just in terms of the amount of information we need to gather.
The home study starts with a 6 page application and an autobiography from each of us. Once the application has been sent in, we have to start procuring an abundance of legal and character documents to attest to our ability to parent. We have to get fingerprinted for the feds and the state to run our criminal records. We have to have a medical physical from our doctors stating we are physically capable of parenting. We have to have letters of recommendation from friends. We have an impending 'home check' to make sure we have running water, porch railings, window screens, and the physical space to accommodate a tiny human.
At this point, our autobiographies are almost finished, so in the next couple of days, we will be mailing our application, autobiographies, and another check (this time to the social worker).
As far as the brochure that tells expectant mothers all about our amazingness, we have written 90% of the prose, and we are gathering a minimum of 75 photos of us by ourselves, with family and friends, and more pics with the pets. The challenge here is that the pictures cannot be selfies (um... COVID - most of our pictures from our entire relationship are selfies), and the photos cannot include alcohol (um... COVID - most of our pictures from our entire relationship include alcohol). :)
We are SOOO excited - to say the least. Did you know there are so many options for strollers, car seats, bouncy chairs, bassinets, onesies, high chairs, bottles - I mean REALLY... how does anyone make a choice these days?!?!?! Fortunately, Amy is on top of the research!
Got any words of wisdom?? Let us know. We would love to hear from you.
XOXO - Bryson