The First Step for the Second

We have some news. This morning I called Coleman Adoption services and told Priscilla, our main contact, that we are ready to begin the process for the next baby. This is the first step. Call them up and tell them you're ready.

It's funny, we aren't really ready. We've gone over "the next one" so many times, ever since Divina came. We want Divina to be somewhat self suficient - potty trained, able to follow simple directions, able to walk independently in public, and so on and so on. But what is really the right time to bring in the second child, if at all? And we aren't ready. We are just recovering from the first one. Sleep deprivation does not seem too inviting now that we are getting some sleep again. And the diapers, and diapers, and diapers. Have I mentioned that I can change diapers, jammies, and prepare a bottle all with my eyes closed? It seems though that if we don't do it now, it won't happen at all. If we wait two years to begin the process, I'll be 36. The adoption of the second child is said to take a bit longer than a first. Birthmothers tend to pick parents who don't already have children. By the time we are chosen, we'll be ready. We expect this to take a year at least, maybe two or three.

Yet, we both feel, with every fiber of our being, that being parents is the best thing either of us has done. Truly, I am better at this than anything I have ever tried before. I have to say, I am a really good mom. Divina is such a happy child. Sure I make mistakes once in while. Just last week I got frustrated and threw her paci across the room. Not an hour later she was fighting a nap and, guess what, threw her paci across the room. Yep. Not good. So I learned and am again very conscience of my actions. She is such a sponge.

So we are now waiting for Rene, the adoption coordinator, to call us back to make an appointment. We'll have to update our home study, create a new profile, and collect evidence which would indicate that we are not in financial ruin. Financial ruin. Our last adoption ran us into the neighborhood of $10,000. This one should be a bit cheeper, but up there non-the-less. Got any extra cash you need a good cause for? We'll take it.