With love from your Big Sister

Part of our journey this time is not only to get us ready for a new family member, but also prepare Natalie.  She is excited and I know that she will be an amazing big sister. It won't be without it's tricky bits, but with her big heart I am excited for our new son or daughter to have Natalie as a big sister.

A while ago, I asked Natalie if she wanted to be the one to buy the baby a special teddy. She was so excited and started looking for the right one straight away.  She found this one, I think there is some extra love from Natalie in it.  She can't wait to give it to her little sister.

So..... people are asking.....WHEN WILL YOU GET A PROPOSAL?....DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU WILL ADOPT?......DO YOU KNOW IF IT WILL BE A SON OR DAUGHTER?....DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD HE OR SHE WILL BE?

The answers are....no,no,no and no... sigh....that is the nature of international adoption.

When our adoption agency locates a child that seems to be a match for our family, we can expect to receive a soft proposal, which will be a medical report and photo of the child and the question to us whether we would like to pursue adopting the child proposed.  We will review the information, send it to a pediatrician in Vancouver who specializes in reviewing proposals for a consult.  When a soft proposal is received, unless there is a good reason, adoptive parents accept the proposal.  Once we accept the soft proposal, the official paperwork is completed.  

We have not specifically requested a boy or a girl.  We have however requested a child that was relinquished not abandoned.  This means that we will know who the biological family is.  This is important as we have blended our family with Natalie's biological family.  They are very much our extended family.  We hope to have a similar relationship with the new family but will meet them where they are.  We have requested a child under 3 years old, the children are generally at least 1 year old so this means the child will be between 1 and 3 years old.

The waiting is hard enough for us, Natalie is taking it all in stride but I have heard a couple of her friends ask 'When will Natalie get a little brother or sister". 

We are so thankful to have so many people to share the excitement, share this journey and support us through.  It is such an exciting time, and even more special to have everyone stepping through it with us.