aldgurl

Congrats Tom and Kathy!!! She is absolutely darling!!

I absolutely loved that story!! It was so great to see how easily she spoke of adoption as a "good" thing...just as easily as someone would speak of it as a "bad" thing. You can tell she had no regrets!!

WWHOOOOAA...MINE CAME OUT TO OVER $340,OOO....oh geez for each one???

Abrazo is THE BEST agency if you want an open adoption. I placed a son 4 months ago through Abrazo...and the staff is just so supportive. No mother wants to place their child but it is a decision I don't for one second regret. They have helped me so much. They are always there to listen, they go out of their way to help you. They are just completely awesome!! I placed a son 2 years ago through a different agency and that experience is just so so different. It is a semi open adoption which basically means I get pictures and a letter once a year. But with Abrazo, I get to hear my little boy over the phone!! I talk to my AP's, Cliff and Alison, on the phone and we email back and forth! I have a great relationship with my son's parents. I think open adoption is absolutely amazing!! And everyone here on the forum is great. It is an awesome support system!! If you ever want to talk send me a personal message. Good luck! amanda

Congrats on another dream come true!!!!!!!

AWESOME!!! congrats to lori and sam and their wonderful BP lainie!!!

To all of the new families I want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!

AWWWW how beautiful!!!

Congrats to the new family!!! Enjoy the tiny bundle because kiddos grow at amazing speed! love amanda

Laura, I would say honesty and communication is key!! Let your birthmother know that she can express her true feelings. She will be having so many different emotions. Anger, sadness, doubt but underneath all that she will feel happy knowing that she placed her baby with a great family who will give the baby everything he/she deserves. Also there will be times that she might not answer the phone. Don't jump to conclusions and tell yourself that she doesn't want to talk to you. She is probably just busy and wants to be able to give you all of her attention. Let her know that you will be there for her no matter what. Reassure her that she will always be a part of the baby's life if that is what she chooses. I hope that has helped some. Good luck!!! love amanda

OOOOOOOOh the new pictures are just DARLING!!!!!!

I just saw the picture in the gallery....what a gorgeous little sweet pea....the name is too cute!!!!....congrats again guys!!!! let the waterworks begin.....AGAIN lots of love amanda

OH MY GOSH YAY!!! NO MAKE THAT A SUPER YAY!!! How totally awesome!!! A little girl!!! The tears started flowing...CONGRATS ANDREA AND DON!!!!!!!!!!

My mom comes up behind me and always reads stuff on here....no way that I am letting her on here though because she might get addicted.....then I will have to fight her for time on the comp....but she does give me advice and reads stuff on here with me!!

Well I called the agency the day after I gave birth to him.....but I knew it in my heart since I learned I was pregnant. I just sat there and wished and hoped that I would win the lottery or something. Of course I didn't.....but I am so happy with the decision that I made. I've said it many many times but I wouldn't want it any other way!!!

Hi Franky, like everyone else I am extremely sorry for your loss. I couldn't even begin to imagine how that must have felt. I am a Birthmother, not an Adoptive mother but I just wanted to say that everyone on here is GREAT. They offer great advice and are all so understanding. The Abrazogals (staff) are something else too!!! They are always willing to help you out and answer any questions you have. I hope that you make the choice to join the Abrazo family!!! love amanda

May these children be placed into loving homes and receive their happily ever after!! amanda

YAY a new family!!! How exciting!!!! Congrats!!!

Oh I know ALL about that. You can just imagine the hurt and dissappointment they will feel. I didn't even want to think about what my mom would do and say. I was scared she would just break down. I mean TWO kids placed for adoption. But she was sooooooo understanding. I couldn't believe it. I asked her "Mom aren't you dissappointed?" She said "No I am sad about the situation, but proud that you are making the right decision for everyone involved". I know I am lucky and I thank God everyday for that. Because she could have just tore into me and I would be so depressed right now. I hope that people, especially, parents can be more understanding about adoption because BP's only want what is best for their child and all the people they love!

I waited until the day after Baby Cliff was born to call Abrazo. I emailed them about 2 weeks before I gave birth but didn't really "talk" to them. The reason I waited is because 2 1/2 years ago I placed a son in a semi open adoption. I felt like I just gave him away. I get pictures and a letter once a year but it is EXTREMELY impersonal. I don't know all the little things he does, I never get to hear his little voice. I want to send a letter to them through the adoption agency but am scared that I won't get a reply and will feel rejected. I couldn't bear the thought of going through that again so I decided I would just keep Baby Cliff even though in my heart I knew there was NO way I could. I just convinced myself that everything would be alright. That is until I saw his sweet little face. That boy deserved the best. I know I couldn't be the best mother to a newborn with a 4 and 3 year old running around the house wanting my undivided attention. I just hoped and prayed that this agency would be different. AND IT WAS!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe that I could have so much contact with my AP's. It is absolutely amazing. I know that he is with SUCH GREAT PARENTS!!!!!!! My only regret is wishing I called Abrazo 2 1/2 years ago. Now I will have a son I will never really KNOW. It breaks my heart. I just hope that one day he wants to meet me so that way I can tell him all the things I never got to say. amanda

Heather, I think having an open adoption is wonderful. I thought that maybe talking with my AP's and hearing the baby in the background would be a reminder of what I don't have....but it is a reminder of what I DO have! I love hearing about all the new little things he does. Your girls look adorable and so happy in the picture of you and them! The smiles on their faces are proof that you are doing an excellent job! And don't feel guilty. I am sure your BP's are escstatic that their children are in such loving arms! They wouldn't have picked you otherwise!!!

Follow your heart...that is so true. The second I held Baby Cliff, I knew that placing was going to be the right decision. My heart was overflowing with love for him and I knew that he deserved so much more than what I could give him. So many thoughts were running through my head though: Maybe you could raise this child, maybe everything would be alright, maybe I could be the mother that this precious boy needed. But those were maybes. My HEART was sure that I had to place. I knew that no matter how much I wanted to keep this baby, there was a family out there that he deserved and that deserved him. My heart also knew that Cliff and Alison were that family. Their profile was awesome. Everything that I was looking for. When I walked into that Abrazo office to meet the parents of my baby, my heart was beating a thousand beats per second. But I knew the minute that we hugged and started talking that I had made the right decision. Although we didn't get to form the bond during my pregnancy....it started forming instantly, as soon as we met. I felt so comfortable with them. And as I sat with Baby Cliff waiting to take him to meet his parents after I had signed away my parental rights, I felt so awful, but so happy. I murmured sweet little nothings in his ear and told him how happy he would be with them. And when I placed Baby Cliff in Alison's arms, I looked at the three of them and felt peace with my decision. They were a family, they looked complete. Now Baby Cliff is almost a month old, 3 more days to be exact. Alison, Cliff and I talk on a weekly basis and email back and forth. Our AP/BP relationship is growing stronger and stronger. Alison said it is a learning process for all three of us and I couldn't agree more. What's funny though is I thought there would be a hole in my heart the size of Baby Cliff, but that isn't the case. He will always be in my heart, and I gained two more people in my life that I love dearly. So in the end yes, I followed my heart and I wouldn't want it any other way.

And by the way....THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WARM WELCOME EVERYONE!!!

My avatar is a pic of Baby Cliff that I took today, June 22, 2006. He is 9 days old today!! Isn't he just adorable!!! In my profile there is also one of him with his eyes open!! Cliff and Alison are SOOOOOOO wonderful with him!!

Hi I am Amanda, Cliff and Alison's birthmother. Forgive me if I am not doing this right but this is my first post! First off I just want to say that Cliff and Alison are 2 of the most kindest, generous, caring people I have ever met! I prayed and prayed that this hard decision of placing my baby would end up well but it turned out even better! I am so glad that I have made these two great life long friends. They will make AWESOME parents, that I am sure of! From my point of view Baby Cliff is extremely lucky because he will get all the love and attention he deserves and then some. As any other birthmother, I wish the circumstances were different and that I could keep this baby and Cliff and Alison completely understand and that brings me great comfort. They are just so easy to get along with. I feel like we are old friends! We had lunch yesterday and it was totally awesome. We talked and laughed and I got to hold and visit with Baby Cliff. I am SO SO glad that I chose to have an open adoption. So I too am happy to say Congrats Cliff and Alison. I couldn't have picked a more deserving couple. I love ya'll!!!!