I have been thinking a lot today about a pregnant woman I don’t know. I’ll actually never know her, and never know anything about her. The thing that makes her different from a million other pregnant women I’ll never know is that this one is carrying my daughter around.
Damon and I submitted our application yesterday to adopt a baby from China.
Some of you have been patient and supportive as we worked through this decision under the cover of a filter here on LJ. So I thank you publicly, as I have done so in my head many times.
Most of our good friends have been told, so now this conversation can be public.
If anyone has a question, I’m happy to answer. And if anyone thinks they might find this subject tiresome, I give you my sympathy. I expect I’ll have a lot to say about it going forward.
jaysaint 
Posted by travellight on August 19, 2006 at 1:07 am
Onward!
Posted by travellight on August 19, 2006 at 1:07 am
Onward!
Posted by travellight on August 19, 2006 at 1:07 am
Onward!
Posted by yellowdoggrl on August 19, 2006 at 1:21 am
I’ll be interested to read it. It might be a path The Beau and I find ourselves taking too.
Posted by yellowdoggrl on August 19, 2006 at 1:21 am
I’ll be interested to read it. It might be a path The Beau and I find ourselves taking too.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Excellent. I’m a crazy researcher, having done it professionally for years, so feel free to ask any questions.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Excellent. I’m a crazy researcher, having done it professionally for years, so feel free to ask any questions.
Posted by yellowdoggrl on August 19, 2006 at 1:21 am
I’ll be interested to read it. It might be a path The Beau and I find ourselves taking too.
Posted by friendofjack on August 19, 2006 at 6:30 am
Congrats and happy thoughts coming from my little corner of the world.
Posted by friendofjack on August 19, 2006 at 6:30 am
Congrats and happy thoughts coming from my little corner of the world.
Posted by friendofjack on August 19, 2006 at 6:30 am
Congrats and happy thoughts coming from my little corner of the world.
Posted by samae on August 19, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Yay! So – how long is it going to take from yesterday until the day you bring her home?
Posted by samae on August 19, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Yay! So – how long is it going to take from yesterday until the day you bring her home?
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Well, too long to hold lunch for her, that’s for sure. The timing can change pretty dramatically and without warning, but it is my hope, and timid expectation, to go get her in late 2007.
Posted by geobabe1 on August 19, 2006 at 4:04 pm
My BIL (husband’s brother) and SIL have a boy and a girl they adopted from Russia, but this was before I joined the family, so I’m interested to hear about the international adoption process as it’s happening. As best as hubby can recall, their process took about two years; I have no idea how similar adoptions from Russia and China are, besides theirs being more complicated due to it being two, so no clue whether their experience would be at all helpful to you.
Good luck, and I hope there aren’t too many bumps on the road.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Thanks for the good wishes! I’ve been told that Russia is a bit quicker and the babies are a bit younger, but I don’t know that for sure.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Thanks for the good wishes! I’ve been told that Russia is a bit quicker and the babies are a bit younger, but I don’t know that for sure.
Posted by geobabe1 on August 19, 2006 at 4:04 pm
My BIL (husband’s brother) and SIL have a boy and a girl they adopted from Russia, but this was before I joined the family, so I’m interested to hear about the international adoption process as it’s happening. As best as hubby can recall, their process took about two years; I have no idea how similar adoptions from Russia and China are, besides theirs being more complicated due to it being two, so no clue whether their experience would be at all helpful to you.
Good luck, and I hope there aren’t too many bumps on the road.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Well, too long to hold lunch for her, that’s for sure. The timing can change pretty dramatically and without warning, but it is my hope, and timid expectation, to go get her in late 2007.
Posted by samae on August 19, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Yay! So – how long is it going to take from yesterday until the day you bring her home?
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Excellent. I’m a crazy researcher, having done it professionally for years, so feel free to ask any questions.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Well, too long to hold lunch for her, that’s for sure. The timing can change pretty dramatically and without warning, but it is my hope, and timid expectation, to go get her in late 2007.
Posted by tsalino on August 19, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Congratulations.
Posted by tsalino on August 19, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Congratulations.
Posted by tsalino on August 19, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Congratulations.
Posted by geobabe1 on August 19, 2006 at 4:04 pm
My BIL (husband’s brother) and SIL have a boy and a girl they adopted from Russia, but this was before I joined the family, so I’m interested to hear about the international adoption process as it’s happening. As best as hubby can recall, their process took about two years; I have no idea how similar adoptions from Russia and China are, besides theirs being more complicated due to it being two, so no clue whether their experience would be at all helpful to you.
Good luck, and I hope there aren’t too many bumps on the road.
Posted by baldsug on August 19, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Excellent news! Adoption always amazes me. The idea that you go from not having a baby to actually having one, literally overnight. I think you should just start pretending you’re pregnant just to sort of mentally prepare for the change in your life. Plus, that way you can eat all the cupcakes you want!
Posted by baldsug on August 19, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Excellent news! Adoption always amazes me. The idea that you go from not having a baby to actually having one, literally overnight. I think you should just start pretending you’re pregnant just to sort of mentally prepare for the change in your life. Plus, that way you can eat all the cupcakes you want!
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 11:12 pm
It amazes me too! We’ll go down this long road of paperwork and waiting and then one day someone will just call me and say, “We’ve got your baby!” And then we fly to China and an orphanage rep just comes up to you and says, “Here you go!” and then you leave with her and keep her for the rest of your life.
I’m already bemoaning the lost opportunity to be fawned over like a pregnant woman and am trying to convince Damon I should get the full treatment.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 11:12 pm
It amazes me too! We’ll go down this long road of paperwork and waiting and then one day someone will just call me and say, “We’ve got your baby!” And then we fly to China and an orphanage rep just comes up to you and says, “Here you go!” and then you leave with her and keep her for the rest of your life.
I’m already bemoaning the lost opportunity to be fawned over like a pregnant woman and am trying to convince Damon I should get the full treatment.
Posted by baldsug on August 19, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Excellent news! Adoption always amazes me. The idea that you go from not having a baby to actually having one, literally overnight. I think you should just start pretending you’re pregnant just to sort of mentally prepare for the change in your life. Plus, that way you can eat all the cupcakes you want!
Posted by elemess on August 19, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Congratulations!
Posted by elemess on August 19, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Congratulations!
Posted by jaysaint on August 20, 2006 at 3:39 am
Thank you! You’re one of the few people I know who’s been to China so please do chime in with any interesting information as we go along.
Posted by jaysaint on August 20, 2006 at 3:39 am
Thank you! You’re one of the few people I know who’s been to China so please do chime in with any interesting information as we go along.
Posted by elemess on August 19, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Congratulations!
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Thanks for the good wishes! I’ve been told that Russia is a bit quicker and the babies are a bit younger, but I don’t know that for sure.
Posted by jaysaint on August 19, 2006 at 11:12 pm
It amazes me too! We’ll go down this long road of paperwork and waiting and then one day someone will just call me and say, “We’ve got your baby!” And then we fly to China and an orphanage rep just comes up to you and says, “Here you go!” and then you leave with her and keep her for the rest of your life.
I’m already bemoaning the lost opportunity to be fawned over like a pregnant woman and am trying to convince Damon I should get the full treatment.
Posted by jaysaint on August 20, 2006 at 3:39 am
Thank you! You’re one of the few people I know who’s been to China so please do chime in with any interesting information as we go along.