Happy Birthday To My Baby Love

~Last Day Under One Year Old~

**Celebrating ONE YEAR!**

It has been one AMAZING year with sweet Kheaven Zane!

Looking forward to year two!!

I Heart Faces: Thy Trusty Old Probe

To see more things that go "vroom" go to I Heart Faces!

Adoption: Maeve and Money Matters

Her birthday is January 6, 2010. She has six fingers!

I love her.

If I could I would get her RIGHT NOW!

"I was looking up ways to raise money for adoption and found this:

We didn't have to finance our adoption: We adopted two children through the state foster care system, and received foster care payments, WIC, mileage reimbursement, clothing vouchers, and day care and medical services while the children were in our care. The state also paid our attorney fees. We will receive a monthly stipend and medical benefits until the children are 18. There are so many children who need parents, and thanks to adoption support programs, finances don't have to be a barrier."
Maeve MacSteves

Nothing like having a name/thought/feeling jump out at you. I've never even seen the name before yesterday.

Here's a list of some of the sites I'm looking at right now...

The Adoption Guide

Unique Ways to Raise Money for Adoption

Raising Money for Adoption

How to Raise Money for Your Adoption

How to Raise Money to Adopt a Child

Adoption: A Thought, A Yearning

I have always wanted to adopt. I have dreamed about it, but not in detail. After my youngest son was born with Down syndrome I became a part of a large online community, through which I was directed to Reece's Rainbow.

I don't think I ever contemplated adopting a child with special needs. I had a big enough fear about giving birth to a child with special needs, so willingly taking that on wasn't on my list of things to do. After looking through Reece's Rainbow the desire I have become increasingly aware of my desire to adopt. Having my baby made me realize I can handle a child with special needs. Not just handle though, the word makes me laugh. I love and cherish my son! He is amazing and I know another little one, with Down syndrome or without would be a blessing.

Financially I am not in a place to adopt right now. Career-wise, we are just starting to be on the right path. We live in a two bedroom apartment with five people, so our housing situation is not suitable for another family member yet. We are starting our journey though. I have been in contact with and am following blogs of people who are going through the adoption process. I am looking up and plotting out ways to save money, whether it's raising it or just not spending what we already have.

I feel determined, and I want to profess this publicly so I stay on course. I want to be held accountable. This is my dream. If there was ever a calling in my life, this is it. The feeling runs deep within me, it overtakes me. Whoever the baby or babies are that we're going to adopt, I love them, I know I do. I can't wait to meet them and to hold them... They might not even be born yet, but I am here for them, getting ready for them.

This is my family's journey. One of our many adventures!