twoirish

I think I wouldn't be that confident of a $300 homestudy. It is just so much lower than most homestudies in most states. My first was $1500 and my second was $750 but it was a reputable agency so I felt confident even though it was cheaper than my first. Although at that agency, the updates are the same fee as the first homestudy.

I am mixed on this topic, before I adopted my first son, I would have said that you should not be able to choose because if you have a bio child you don't have a choice. But now that I have 2 boys, if we adopted a 3rd I would like it to be a girl. Although my husband always says that if another boy came are way, he knows I would jump right on it. Now on the issue of one gender being easier than the other, I believe that it is all about the child's personality not the gender. I have 2 sons that are as different as night and day, my oldest presents me with a challenge every day, and my youngest throws the occasional fit but is very easy for the most part. And my oldest is a total momma's boy and my youngest loves his daddy, so you never can tell. But I will say has a mother of 2 boys I would never have it any other way.

Smitty, Obviously there are alot of issues that you and your spouse need to work through before you consider adoption. I don't know exactly why you are so bitter, maybe you could elaborate a little more on that. I think you need to consider the well being of the child you adopt more than how much it is going to cost. I also want you to realize that this forum is not strictly for adoptive parents, it is also for birthparents who we all have come to cherish, so please try to think before you post. Every birthparent has their own special circumstances on why they chose adoption and they should not be judged or stereotyped by anyone. K.T., my respect for you grows everytime I read one of your posts. What a strong woman you are!

Sugarfamily, The best advice I can give you on your questions is to call and talk to the wonderful staff at Abrazo and they will be happy to answer them for you. After all they are the experts and they will give you the best answer.

Sabrina, I love your story and it sounds like you are doing a great job as a single mother. Please give us an update on baby #2 when you get a chance.

I am an adoptive parent and when we were talking to birthparents the thing that seemed most important to the ones I talked to was the length of our marriage and that we had a stable background and homelife. Most of them weren't that concerned with our age, although there was one that did not pick us because we were too young(we are in are late twenties). So don't worry, the most important thing is that you are young at heart.

Dear momoflori, I'm sure they would love it you sent a card to the baby. I am an adoptive parent and I understand how hard it must be to give up a child or a grandchild. So I'm sure they know that it is nothing personal towards them that you didn't meet them, and that you were just hurting at the time. I think the card is a great idea! I think it would be a special keepsake for the baby. I think he or she would love to know their birthgrandmother.