babyrookie.com
Every combination I could possibly think of for "my little rookie" was taken, so I'm happy enough with this URL.
This was my Saturday. I was supposed to be in the office working on College websites -- in anticipation of a huge campaign launch on the ever-fast-approaching September 1 -- but the College's core server had different ideas about that. So I worked from home on my own website.
I still have to add meta tags to each page, and think about Google ad words, but as I remind myself on an almost daily basis, baby steps to getting this all done.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Feeling Good about Change
As I've mentioned in several posts, I am feeling disconnected from Ethiopia but also from my placement agency. Because they have no answers, because I'm frustrated, because they've raised their rates again and I've lost my case manager again, and because I need someone to blame, I guess. Some of my frustration is misdirected at them, I know this, but some of it isn't.
And I'm not the only who feels this way and I'm so proud of two friends in particular who took matters into their own hands.
T left the Ethiopia program and our shared agency and connected with another. And as I write this, she is in Haiti meeting her son. She will not be able to bring him home until the spring probably, but she has her son and she's with him right now.
C was also frustrated with the wait going on longer than anticipated, and switched programs (to China Special Needs) within our shared agencies. Wait time, no tangible answers -- it was the same frustration all over again. She switched agencies and now has a daughter. She won't be able to bring her home until just after the holidays, but she has her daughter. With a photo and a history and a name.
I guess I'm hoping to have the same luck with domestic. Going into this, you hear umpteen times that when you have your child home, you will need to be an advocate for him, for his needs, for his adjustments, to help him bond and feel secure.
What no one told me, but what I've learned, is that you also need to be an advocate for yourself. Don't just sit back and wait. Don't accept it what you hear. If someone says that as a single woman, you are not a viable candidate for domestic adoption, don't accept that as fact. Break the myths. Find out what else you can do. Make it happen.
And I'm not the only who feels this way and I'm so proud of two friends in particular who took matters into their own hands.
T left the Ethiopia program and our shared agency and connected with another. And as I write this, she is in Haiti meeting her son. She will not be able to bring him home until the spring probably, but she has her son and she's with him right now.
C was also frustrated with the wait going on longer than anticipated, and switched programs (to China Special Needs) within our shared agencies. Wait time, no tangible answers -- it was the same frustration all over again. She switched agencies and now has a daughter. She won't be able to bring her home until just after the holidays, but she has her daughter. With a photo and a history and a name.
I guess I'm hoping to have the same luck with domestic. Going into this, you hear umpteen times that when you have your child home, you will need to be an advocate for him, for his needs, for his adjustments, to help him bond and feel secure.
What no one told me, but what I've learned, is that you also need to be an advocate for yourself. Don't just sit back and wait. Don't accept it what you hear. If someone says that as a single woman, you are not a viable candidate for domestic adoption, don't accept that as fact. Break the myths. Find out what else you can do. Make it happen.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Profile Complete
My attorney called me last week and said she would like my profile quickly. I was thinking quickly meant that I should get it to her in the next week or so. Quickly to her meant first draft to her that night.
So I stayed late at work and wrote out what had been in my head, what I had been procrastinating finally putting on paper. She sent back edits and photo suggestions, and I worked on it over the weekend. Yesterday I sent her the finished version, a check and a signed contract. This is really happening.
Maybe she's thinking that my court certification will be done quicker. I didn't ask any questions, just did what she told me. And I was happy to have it done -- eight written pages with pictures. My life in a nutshell.
She is now reviewing the copy and pulling out what should go on the website. Baby steps to getting this all done.
So I stayed late at work and wrote out what had been in my head, what I had been procrastinating finally putting on paper. She sent back edits and photo suggestions, and I worked on it over the weekend. Yesterday I sent her the finished version, a check and a signed contract. This is really happening.
Maybe she's thinking that my court certification will be done quicker. I didn't ask any questions, just did what she told me. And I was happy to have it done -- eight written pages with pictures. My life in a nutshell.
She is now reviewing the copy and pulling out what should go on the website. Baby steps to getting this all done.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
All about the Numbers
Today is my 14th month on the wait list for Ethiopia. But rather than focus on that number, I'll focus on more fun numbers.
Yesterday, I went to the Finger Lakes Wine Festival and because it was held at Watkins Glen International Raceway, I got to ride in a pace car around the track. I'm not a race fan. But my best friend is, so I'm interested enough in it for her. And I wish she was there to ride too, but I knew she would love that I got to do it.
70mph on the "S" turns and nearly 100 on the straight aways. It was awesome. And for those three or four minutes around the track, I didn't think about anything. NOTHING.
And then this morning, at the gym, I decided to go in and try to beat my 5K time from May. You'll remember it was 40:48. I ran about two minutes of every five, kept track of my pace, and clocked in at 39:45!
And so while I really thought I would have a referral from Ethiopia by now, I'm excited that I've got things moving forward with domestic. I completed the court paperwork and mailed it back to my attorney to file. And so in six weeks or less, I will be "on the market" for potential birth mothers to fall in love with me.
Six, 14, 70, 39:45.....it's all just numbers, and I'm choosing to only look at the fun ones right now.
Yesterday, I went to the Finger Lakes Wine Festival and because it was held at Watkins Glen International Raceway, I got to ride in a pace car around the track. I'm not a race fan. But my best friend is, so I'm interested enough in it for her. And I wish she was there to ride too, but I knew she would love that I got to do it.
70mph on the "S" turns and nearly 100 on the straight aways. It was awesome. And for those three or four minutes around the track, I didn't think about anything. NOTHING.
And then this morning, at the gym, I decided to go in and try to beat my 5K time from May. You'll remember it was 40:48. I ran about two minutes of every five, kept track of my pace, and clocked in at 39:45!
And so while I really thought I would have a referral from Ethiopia by now, I'm excited that I've got things moving forward with domestic. I completed the court paperwork and mailed it back to my attorney to file. And so in six weeks or less, I will be "on the market" for potential birth mothers to fall in love with me.
Six, 14, 70, 39:45.....it's all just numbers, and I'm choosing to only look at the fun ones right now.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My Story
About a month ago, I found out I received a grant from Parenthood for Me. They asked me to write a blog post, telling my story. A lot of it, you already know, but here it is.
Parenthood for Me: A Grant Recipient Story
Parenthood for Me: A Grant Recipient Story
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Website Names
I've gotten lots of great suggestions, -- thank you to my smart, creative friends, far and near -- and I've got it narrowed down to the following (although still taking suggestions):
* familyof2
* mylittlerookie
* mymommyturn
* ababy2love
Any one of these jump out more than another? Other suggestions? I'm hoping to wrap this up in the next few days.
* familyof2
* mylittlerookie
* mymommyturn
* ababy2love
Any one of these jump out more than another? Other suggestions? I'm hoping to wrap this up in the next few days.
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