Dear Expectant Mamma,
We met through friends at College. After a few years of hanging out as friends, I started to develop feelings for Chris. Chris wasn't ready for a relationship yet so we continued to be friends. It wasn't until Chris's family went through something that he wanted to call his "Friend" Emily. After we talked, he asked me out for coffee. We dated for a year and then he proposed. We got married in 2012 and then 2 years after started to try for children. We found out we were infertile and that was hard to accept. We didn't give up though because one of our friends suggested we try adopting. We're so hopeful that our baby is out there and we can't wait to provide a loving and safe home.
Expectant mothers who choose to make an adoption plan may qualify for some level of financial assistance during their pregnancy. However, each person's situation and specific needs are different. Your adoption social worker can help you determine what level of assistance you qualify for and deserve. Many expectant mothers qualify for financial assistance to cover basic pregnancy and living expenses, including but not limited to - transportation reimbursement, utility assistance for phone, water, and electricity/gas, maternity clothing and supplements, etc.
It won't cost you anything. If you choose to place your baby for adoption, all of your medical and legal fees will be covered and you may be eligible for financial assistance with other pregnancy-related expenses.
Yes. Even if you don’t know the identity of the birth father, you can still choose to make an adoption plan. However, every adoption situation is different. The adoption social worker you’re assigned to will get to know you and your story first, and then guide you through the process accordingly.
You can make an adoption plan at any point in your pregnancy, even after the baby has been born. But, it's important to start the process as early in your pregnancy as possible. Connecting with those resources will allow you to gain access to important medical services, including prenatal care, to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
One aspect of your adoption plan is the "Hospital Plan" an outline of how you'd like your hospital stay and delivery to go. You can craft this on your own or with the help of your adoption social worker. But everything is up to you. You’ll be able to choose who comes to the hospital with you, who is in the room with you during delivery, and how much time you’d like to spend with the baby before signing the final papers.
As part of your adoption plan, you'll determine whether or not you’d like to have an open or closed adoption or something in between. Open adoptions may include phone calls, messaging (via social media, email, or text), and/or periodic visits each year. Closed adoptions may include no contact at all or annual updates provided to the birth parent(s) by the adoptive family. Each post-adoption relationship is different and can vary based on what an expectant mother chooses in her adoption plan.
Here is Chris with little Miss Timsley and she just warmed up to him right away!
We got to watch our friends little one :)
A sweet time!
Our church had it's annual trunk or treat and we were circus entertainers! The kids had fun at our booth because we had a game :)
At Halloween we like to carve pumpkins. This year we couldn't get together because we were sick but we will make it up next year!
It was fun to work on a project together!
We recently re-did our driveway! It looks so much nicer and it's easier to manage now.
We went to visit friends for Memorial Day. They have an annual party with their family and friends!