Mohlers

I cringe at this because I've been guilty of referring to expectant mothers as "birthmothers." I think our beloved Abrazo Chicks have done well in keeping us informed on appropriate language in the adoption community and this is no exception. I am confident that these terms are used to distinguish between the relationships to the child and not to insult or minimize. I prefer to use birth mother or biological mother to first mother, natural mother or *GASP* real mother. When needed, I don't mind being called adoptive mother. Afterall, in our house, I'm MAMA.

I had to DVR this 20/20 episode and just got a chance to watch. What hearbreaking stories.

Many thanks to the Abrazo ladies down under & in the lone star state who helped our families join! Also thanks to our Abrazo families in forum-land!

So glad to hear the happy news!

Congratulations!

Congratulations Jeremy & Jessica, I'm honored to be able to watch your journey into parenthood and your developing relationship with Grant's birthmother.

Congratulations! Praying for everyone involved, especially baby Tent, during this transition.

God IS awesome! Many congratulations Mark & Laurie; what a blessing to witness your dreams come true.

I hope this helps Abrazo Babe find their way to you!

I thought I'd share with some of my fellow againers something that I felt like I should have known, but didn't... Matt and I have openly discussed that idea of adopting again with Aydin's birth mother before we began our 2nd journey to Abrazo and have kept her up-to-date throughout the process. She has been so supportive and even was a reference for our homestudy. Thankfully, we have a strong relationship with her and she is comfortable in sharing her feelings. She bashfully admitted this weekend that she's having some emotions come up since we have matched with our 2nd birth parents. As the dynamics of our family are changing and growing, she seems to be afraid that our relationship will not be as stong as it has been before the other birth parents entered the picture. God bless her. I immediately and sincerely shared with her that we will always love her unconditionally (something I'm not sure that she's truly experience before). I think I set her mind to rest and we were able to talk a few more times throughout the weekend. This is probably an especially sensitive time for her since Aydin's birthday is this week. I don't think we could have prepared for this any better except I wish I could have checked in with her on her feelings before she felt the need to admit them.

So...in addition to mailing flyers & business cards, I've handed some out and posted them on local community boards. I asked customer service/managers if they were "postable" for their community boards and they welcomed it. As we were leaving the grocery store today, I stopped by the community board to see if any little tabs have been pulled off and saw....THE WHOLE FLYER GONE!! What?!?

Pink AND Blue?!?

Thanks, everybody! And good for you, Mark & Laurie! It feels good to have such support. It's also exciting to be more active in the process.

Okay, Abrazo ladies, prepare for the phone lines to be FLOODED with calls responding to the awesome flyers and buisiness cards! We put together packets including a short letter of introduction, a flyer and a few business cards and are mailing them today.

A friend told me of a website who offers free business cards. I haven't ordered yet, but looked at the website and found they also offer websites. Hope this info helps our proactive friends... Vista Print

Okay, Elizabeth...you've talked us into it! We've opened a "designated" email account and are going to try our creativity on some flyers or business cards.

HOORAY! We got our tee-shirts today! Thanks, ladies!

Oh Man...I gotta check the mail...I forgot!

Though we haven't exactly been waiting endlessly, Matt and I are thinking about ways to search for the child that needs us. We're not sure where to begin, though. Newspaper? Website? Mass email? Anyone have suggestions?

So much good news at Abrazo! Congratulations to all the families!

We had literally stacks of information from many agencies, both for domestic and international adoption. I had no idea how to choose one over the other, until Angela called us to see how we were doing. She was the only person from any of the agencies to call. That simple gesture was enough to pursuade us into Orientation Weekend. After that weekend, meeting the Abrazo ladies and the other couples, there was no doubt that Abrazo was for us! Our 3 month old son was home with us less than a month later! We're so glad to be part of the Abrazo family, we're returning for our 2nd adoption!

I agree!

HOORAY for Abrazo againers! Generally speaking, of course, are there cases where anxious againers may attend Orientation Weekends otherwise set aside for childless couples? Generally speaking...of course.

Oh, no!! I didn't think Elizabeth would actually put the ending behind that black stripe!! I just wanted to see how it works!! I don't mind spoilers, this movie is definitely on my must-see list.

We, too, are planning our second adoption this year. Maybe we'll meet at an againers orientation, Susan!?!