"Maternity" Photos!

A few months ago while Pinteresting things about Adoption, I stumbled upon someone who had done adoption "maternity" photos. 

I.fell.in.love. 

New I had to have them! Such a cute idea. So my wonderful cousin Jess of Seedling Photography (out of the Columbus, Ohio area) volunteered to try out the idea while we were on vacation in Michigan this summer. So I set to work creating some props and putting together ideas. I couldn't have imagined better pictures! Oh my goodness. Here are my faves!



Thank you Pinterest for helping me learn that spray paint and stickers make such cute signs!

So... I wanted to save these 3 images and share them when we finally get "the big news" but I loved them too much to not share them!

This idea is also from Pinterest and I thought it was too cute. I love the whole Growing in my Heart idea :)

Again- Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jess! What a talent you have :)

If you're in the Columbus area you really need to check her out!

Perspective and Understanding

All day, everyday we walk around with our own feelings. The adoption process is long and lonely and some parts of it are extrememly hard to explain, especially how you feel throughout it. Not to say people can't or don't try to understand what I'm going through or can't be emphathetic. And it sounds cliche to say- you can't understand because you aren't going through it- but sometimes you really can't. Like, I'll never know what it's like to be pregnant. You hear some people talk about their crazy hormones or pregnancy brain and I can imagine that, but I can't really understand. That's what my post is about today. Understanding and Perspective. 

I was having a conversation and getting extrememly upset because someone did not understand why a certain situation would be so important. Of course at the time, I couldn't get the words out- I just cried. I became outraged because they didn't seem to see the importance. Now looking back it was silly. It is one of those situations where someone doesn't understand because they have never gone through it or known someone who has gone through it. Instead of getting upset, I needed to pause and explain everything. This goes back to the whole reason I started this blog. To help people understand. So today, I'm going to share something else that unless you have been through an adoption or been close to someone who has gone through an adoption, you might not know. So here goes...

If you're a parent, I'm sure you remember the first time you ever saw your child at the hospital (ok, it may be hard to remember, but I'm sure you at least remember parts of that day!) As adoptive parents, this is something that will be equally if not a more- monumental occasion. It is that day when the birth parents will give the greatest gift that can ever be given- a child. Sometimes there is a small ceremony where the birth parents sign papersstating their intent to give the baby to the adoptive parents- kind of like getting the keys to your new car, but wayyyyyyy better :) !!  Now, imagine not being there for that? There are some cases where this doesn't happen- mostly in closed adoptions. Since we are planning an open adoption we will be able to be there the day our baby is born and take it home just like you would if you gave birth. 

So that's it, I'm done being preachy today. I myself need to remember that people are not being insensitive when they say things. It's hard. If I snap at you, I'm sorry. Just please remember in any situation, ask questions before you assume things. And this goes for a wide variety of topics. 

Happy Saturday :) Hope everyone is enjoying some of nice weather! 

Thoughts

We just got home from spending a fun week in Michigan (okay, the weather was more like October) and getting our adoption pictures taken. I started re-reading the Hunger Games. I have to get ready for the next movie! Anyway, I was trying to find a bookmark when I found a bible verse from church and it just seemed so fitting...

Proverbs 16:9- We can make plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Isn't that true? We've made plans to adopt, but now we have to wait until the timing is just perfect.

Well, here's to waiting!