We have gotten used to getting the "So, how's the adoption coming?" question. In fact if you have asked the answer you have probably heard from us is "We're just waiting!". This past weekend we were at a family wedding and this dialogue occurred, but the next question made me realize that maybe we need to come up with a better answer. When I told someone "We're just waiting!", the next question was "So, what are you waiting for?". I thought it was a pretty fair question. We aren't the only ones who are new to this whole adoption thing, and it made me realized that others might not know exactly what happens next!
Since we have agreed to adopt a baby (or twins...yes we agreed to twins!!) from the age of birth to a year, we have three different possibilities for the "next step".
1. We will get matched with a birthmother. She will pick us from a collection of couples whose profile she has read. Our social worker will be able to tell her more about us with the information she learned from the homestudy process. If the birthmother chooses to do so, we will meet before the birth to get to know her and have her get to know us.
2. We will be matched with a baby. The birthmother may not have had an adoption plan before the birth, but has made the decision to find an adoptive family once the baby is born.
3. We may be matched with a baby who is a bit older (up to a year) who was in temporary foster care. Our agency does temporary 89 day foster placement for birthmothers that haven't made an adoption plan, but still need some time to think about what is best for the baby.
Which ever possibility comes our way, the end outcome is all the same. We get to bring home a precious little baby to become a part of our family. We don't know when it will happen, but each day brings us closer to meeting our little baby Gerke!
