I promise all of my blogging posts won't be about our newest endeavour, but since people have been asking me all sorts of questions, I thought I'd address them here. :-) Just trying to be resourceful and killing a few birds with one stone!

I guess with my last blog post it seemed as if we had called adoption agencies and are ready to dive in feet first. Unfortunately, that is not quite the case! We are still very much in the "figuring-it-all-out" stage. There is just so much to take in and process.

Sitting downstairs on my coffee table are five books about adoption...ranging from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adoption to Adopting in America: How to Adopt Within One Year to Adoption: The Essential Guide to Adopting Quickly and Safely. Now, I haven't opened the books just yet (I only got them today) but I'm sure there's enough info in them to overwhelm anyone.

I happened to post a question on the Columbus online forum I'm a member of about adoption...I wanted to know if anyone has done adoption or knows of people who have adopted. I got some great responses, and quite a few girls suggested I look toward attending "The Adoption Academy". Basically the academy "helps take the mystery out of the adoption process." John and I will be taking two of their three tracks: The Core Track and The Domestic Track. The Core Track is the overview of adoption, affording adoption, info about the homestudy, and ends with a panel made up of parents and adoptees. The Domestic Track is the step-by-step process of finding the adoptive child, preparing for the child's arrival, open adoptions & cultural considerations, and adoption of children with special needs & another panel made up of parents and adoptees. The classes start in mid-September and go weekly into November (one night a week for two hours).

After we attend the Adoption Academy, John and I will take our official first step and call an agency. Until then, I plan on learning as much as I can about this process before it gets started!

Sorry I haven't blogged lately. Guess I'm enjoying summer a bit too much. I'm currently in Cleveland (again) and can't believe that summer is 1/2 over already!

I've been enjoying my days off with friends, laughter, and adult beverages. :-) It has been relaxing. Life is just life...I keep chugging along and continue to hold my head up and keep a smile on my face.

John and I have made a final decision. I'm happy we are at this point that we can safely say that we are NOT going to do donor eggs or embryo adoption. We are ready to start the adoption application process. It is a daunting task, and I'm feeling VERY overwhelmed, but I know that friends who have done it before me will lend their expertise and knowledge and that will make the process easier for us. First John and I will need to find an agency. Once that starts, we'll apply and get our homestudy done. I don't know when this will all take place, but we're anxious and excited and extremely nervous.

Other than that...just two weeks until we leave for VEGAS!!!!!!! My incredible parents got me two tickets to see "Blue Man Group" for my birthday...and John and I are in the front row!!!! :-) Other than that we have a trip to Hoover Dam planned and a lot of sitting by the pool at the Flamingo on our agenda. Sure we'll gamble and go to all the casino's and take in the sights, but just time for the two of us is what we are so excited about.

Until next time.........