Rough, raw, and honest.

When blogging first came about, I never in a million years thought I'd get into it. I consider myself an open book, but putting all my thoughts out there for everyone to see scared me. But after awhile I found it cathartic and a free form of therapy. Additionally, I found it to be a great arena to voice my opinions and concerns with regards to my lifestyle choices.

Then I realized more 'real-life' friends started following and I became a little gun shy with my blogs. These people know me, they see me, what if they get offended? What if they stop being my friend because of my opinions? What will they think??

I realized I had lost that part of blogging I loved so much and that I was letting those hangups affect me. I did some soul searching these past few weeks and decided to get this blog back to where I need it to be. The title for Thriving for Baby is "our quest for love, health, spirituality, happiness, and a family" and I want to discuss all of that this year: health (mental, physical, emotional), our spiritual growth, what we do to make ourselves happy, and everything in between.

So buckle up, avid readers of ThrivingforBaby as 2011 will be a coming out year, so to speak. It's time to get rough, raw, and honest.

May 2012

May 2012 sounds like a long time away. It's definitely not a date we anticipated seeing without Baby G., but that is a possibility we need to get used to.

All of the paper pregnant families, those of us who have gone through all of our paperwork and procedures and are simply waiting, in our program were notified that our program has grown so much that we need to anticipate the full 18 month wait.

I read this notice over and over on January 1st, talked about it with S., and wrote back and forth with another paper pregnant friend in our same program. I initially was okay with the news. S., on the other hand, was frustrated and confused. 2012?!?

The more I mulled it over the more anxious I became and the more I realized (again) I am NOT in control. This whole process, growing our family, everything is not in my control.

I have blogged about my struggles and realizations of God's Will before, but this adoption process has really been a great constant reminder that He is in control.

We are more calm now and re-energized for the wait - whether it's 3 months, 8 months, or the full 18. Thank you for the continued thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes. We are so glad we can bring you on this journey with us.

Happy 2011!

Time has gone into warped speed this past month and, while I absolutely love the holidays, I'm very relieved they've come and gone. S. and I have taken some quiet time in the midst of the chaos to reflect on our goals for this new year and begin coming up with game plans with regards to Baby.

I'm also wanting to update my blog - give it a fresh face ready for our growing family. So if you know any aspiring graphic designers looking to grow their portfolio and can design me an awesome template for cheap or FREE (I'll advertise) contact me either on facebook or via my email.

Lastly, I'd love to get involved with doing some homemade craft giveaways this year. Contact me if you know of anyone who'd love to donate items.

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2011!!

The Holidays are HERE!

Since it's been a while since I last blogged, I figure I'll use this post as a general update. A lot has been going on - business is doing very well, all thanks to God - and that has been taking up our time.

I got a crafty bug up my rear and decided to make ornament Christmas cards to send out. I don't have any kind of pattern, so I apologize in advance if you get it and don't put it on the tree. :( I'll be working on them this whole weekend and should have them out by next week. (If they end up nice, though, I'll take pics and make a craft blog post.)

If you didn't already have a chance to see it, my father and lovely husband worked through Thanksgiving weekend to paint Baby G.'s room. It is adorable! We're just getting the finishing touches (a little rug, a fold out bed chair, and perhaps some shelves) and it should be done and ready for Baby G.'s arrival. I already sent the pics I took to our coordinator in Japan - hopefully it will tug at our Bio Mom's heart.

S. and I go through ups and downs in terms of our battle with food/healthy living/exercise. We hate the downs. We happen to be in one currently. Long story short (for now, as this will indeed be its own blog post later) we have been trying to find something that fit what we knew in our hearts to be the right way to health. Last night I began reading through all of the blogs I subscribe to and came to my Penniless Parenting blog. Anyway, we watched the documentary and we both said that this is what we were looking for. I'm just beginning research, but will report back with our progress. Here's to thriving for us and for BABY!

National Adoption Day, Hooray!

Although this day is to celebrate families created through the foster care system, I feel that families created through ANY kind of adoption (private, domestic, international, etc. etc. etc.) can celebrate today.

So with that, I wish all of the families that have been formed through adoption, all of the families waiting to adopt, and those thinking about adoption a very happy and joyous Adoption Day.

Featured Family: Caroline & Elizabeth

Our third featured family is also looking for a birth mother to select them to parent. Please, as always, forward this information on to anyone you may know who is looking for great parents.


Caroline & Elizabeth.

Caroline and Elizabeth met and began dating in college after meeting at a nonprofit conference. Caroline graduated and they lost touch for a couple of years. In April 2006, Caroline moved back to the area and they an across each other at the local Unitarian Church and have been together ever since. Their wedding was in 2008 (as pictured above). Caroline and Elizabeth currently reside in North Carolina.

The desire to be a mom and parent a child hit them hard in 2007. They began saving up for a child and after their wedding, they began a series of IUI procedures. After a year of intensive IUI's and a few chemical pregnancies, Caroline and Elizabeth began their journey towards adoption. While late 2009 and most of 2010 has been rocky in terms of IUIs and the adoption process, Caroline and Elizabeth continue on and still hold onto hope that a child to love is out there for them. They are open to any race or gender. While they prefer an infant, they are open to a sibling group of up to 2 kids age 5 and under.

If you would like to contact these wonderful women who are so inspiring with their dedication to each other as well as possessing an awesome amount of perseverance, please contact me at my email:
thrivingforbaby [at] gmail [dot[ com.

Featured Family: Simon & Christine

Please, please, please forward this info to anyone and everyone as the more eyes that see our Featured Families, the more likely they are to finally meet their child. Much love! Without further adieu, here is our second Featured Family of the month:

Simon & Christine:

They met seven years ago in London, England. Simon is from England and Christine was teaching primary school there. After their second date, Simon & Christine both knew we were meant for each other and, after seven months, we were engaged. While living in England, they got to travel all over Europe. They soon moved back to the USA and got married. They travel back to the UK each year to visit with Simon’s family and friends.

Christine works very close to the home as an Activities Director for an Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing home. She hopes to be a stay-at-home mom when they start their family. Simon works about an hour away in the insurance field but is home all weekend helping around the house. The house is in a quiet, friendly neighborhood with kids and close families. Simon and Christine have lived in this neighborhood for over five years and have no plans on moving.

They have wanted to be parents since they were married. Simon and Christine tried for a child naturally and with fertility treatments for five years with no luck. They both feel they would make wonderful parents to any child and cannot wait to share family traditions, their love of traveling, love of animals and their hearts with a child Simon and Christine will love unconditionally. Having a family is such a dream of theirs that they hope it comes sooner than later.

If you know someone looking to make an adoption plan, or even just want to pass this on to someone who may be able to help, please have them visit Simon & Christine's profile at:
http://www.decisiontomake.com/Who_s_Waiting_to_Adopt_/Simon_and_Christine