We have been pretty busy recently with getting our home ready for our first home visit and just day to day life events. Our first home visit went really well and we are in the middle of trying to finalize any paperwork that was missing. Our references has been an issue as the agency has said they sent them out, but our references have yet to receive the email. Some have gotten the email and have completed while others are waiting. We are both working together to get that worked out before our next visit- which is THIS THURSDAY! We are excited to have this second visit because then that means the Home Study is complete and we just need to wait on the approval! Once we are approved, we can start applying for grants to help cover the cost of the adoption and we will be waiting for a family to match with us! We are so excited!
It is also exciting that we are preparing to have a baby shower in the next month as well! It is, and has been, so hard to navigate this journey as many things are different than a normal pregnancy. Ashley doesn’t have the bodily effects- such as cravings, fatigue, baby bump, etc. Tommy doesn’t have the late night store runs, helping his pregnant wife put on shoes or rub her feet because they hurt. We also do not have the joys of feeling a baby’s kick from inside the womb, filling out the baby book month by month as they grow, or even know when to expect a child to enter our home. We have been adapting to that difference and have an adoption baby book that we can do different pieces in. We have the freedom to choose when to do things with family and friends such as when to have our baby shower. Since so many things are out of our control, this is one thing we can control. It may be awhile before we have the child, but we will be prepared (shocker-Ashley wants to be prepared). We are so excited to celebrate with family and friends soon. Thank you for your continued prayers and love. We are looking forward to this next month as good and exciting things are ahead!