Adoption Blitz!

Thanks so much for spreading the word. Because of your kindness, KSL found us and chose to run an article. Check it out here!

Becoming Reminiscent

We had a great summer. Here's a quick recap: water park trips, baseball games, family visits, hiking, fishing, Vegas weekend, Landon's hip surgery (went well but full recovery will take a while), country concerts, park visits with Copper, and adoption blitz. We have so much to be grateful for.

Last Day of the Adoption Blitz!

Today is the last day of the adoption blitz! Make a status, write a blog post, send an e-mail! We can't thank you enough for your help!

Adoption Blitz!

When we started the adoption process, we were told we were supposed to find our baby. The agency said that many adoptions happen because a friend of a friend knows someone looking to place. Well, we're private people and agreed there was no way we were doing that. Though it still feels uncomfortable for us to ask for your help, we desperately want a child, and if swallowing our pride a bit is the way to do it, bring it.

So, we've decided to combine our efforts and have an adoption blitz THIS WEEK. August 22-29, we need everyone's help to spread the word. For one week, we would appreciate your concentrated effort to help us find our baby. The more people who know we're trying to adopt, the better.  Even if you don't actually know us, it would still mean so much to us if you would pass along our blog info. Do as many of these things as you can THIS WEEK. We would appreciate it so much!

1. Make a facebook status directing people to our adoption blog: landonandjulieadopt.blogspot.com.

2. Add our blog button to your blog (You can grab it from the right sidebar on this blog).

3. Mention our hopes to adopt in a blog post.

4. E-mail me your address (landonandjulieadopt@gmail.com), and I will send you our adoption pass along cards. Give the pass along cards to hair stylists, lawyers, church leaders, doctors, coworkers, moms, dentists, sisters, birth moms, aunts, trainer, etc.

5. E-mail your friends and family

6. Like our adoption facebook page and encourage your friends to as well!

If you don't mind, let us know what you did! We would love to hear about it. Thank you so much!

Becoming a Mother

We have a new caseworker and new pass along cards! Please e-mail me (landonandjulieadopt@gmail.com)  with your address if you'd like us to send some to you. The pass along cards have our contact information and are a great way to spread the word. They can be given to anyone who may know a birth mom (church leaders, birth moms, doctors, lawyers, etc.)! Thanks for your help!

Becoming a Reader

Landon and I recently read Delivering Hope by Jennifer Holt. It's a novel about adoption that gives both the adoptive couple and birth mother's side of the story. The author adopted two children herself, so she really understood the emotions you go through. I really enjoyed the book. I loved seeing the miracles that took place to make the adoption happen, and I especially loved the birth mother's story. Have you read it? What did you think?

Becoming Parents

Blessings in a Basket was kind enough to invite us to share our adoption story on their blog.

Check it out here.

Becoming Parents

We are still hoping to adopt. If you know anyone who is looking to place their child for adoption, please refer them to our blog: landonandjulieadopt.blogspot.com.

You can help us spread the word by liking our adoption facebook page, putting our button on your blog (link on the right side), making a facebook status directing people to our adoption blog, or writing a blog post about it. Thanks for your help and prayers!

Baby Boy

In February, Landon Paul and I were chosen for adoption by an amazing birth mother. She was expecting a baby boy in June, and we were so excited. Last Thursday night (May 17), we received a call from our caseworker letting us know that the baby had passed away.

We've spent the last few days with family, and there will be a small graveside service on Tuesday. We love this boy so much. Our hearts are broken, but we know God is watching over us and this baby.

Becoming a Reader

I just finished reading For the Love of a Child, and I loved it so very much. I stayed up late every night reading it. It shows adoption from lots of different perspectives (birth parents, birth grandparents, church leaders, caseworkers, high school principals, adoptive couples, adoptive grandparents, etc). It was nothing short of incredible. Adoption is such a miracle, and this book just strengthened my belief in its beauty that much more. I was truly touched.

Becoming a Reader

I just finished The Happiest Baby on the Block and really liked it. I should mention- I'm not treating any of these baby books like The Bible. I just figure if the baby is crying at 2am and one of these ideas works, it's worth my time. Anyway, it basically said I should hold my baby as much as possible, especially in the first three months. I was like - um, yes, this book understands me. Landon Paul reminded me that he's going to want to hold the baby all the time, too. I guess we'll have to share :)

Becoming a Mother

How funny is this?

To those who are parents, what do you know now that you wish you'd known when you were a new parent?

Becoming a Reader

We've had the most gorgeous weather here. Everything seems better when the sun is shining. Do you feel the same? Last night I finished The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting by Laurence Steinberg. It's excellent. The author talks about the different developmental stages kids go through and how to help them thrive in each. It's a quick read, and I definitely recommend.

Becoming a Mother

To all the wonderful birth mothers out there, this is our wish for you.

Becoming a Reader

I just finished reading The Sleepeasy Solution. Their tips are supposed to help your baby sleep through the night. I enjoyed it and learned some good things. It's hard to give a solid review until we actually try it/have a baby, but I'll let you know if it worked for us when that time comes. (We did try a few of the tricks on Copper, and his nighttime barking calmed down if that's an indicator lol).

I thought the main points made sense: Make the environment dark and quiet, stay on a routine, etc. Good stuff, a little redundant, but I'm guessing they thought the reader would skim it. Have you read it? Do you have another baby book you recommend?

Becoming a Mother

We don't know when we'll be chosen for adoption, but I'm trying to be prepared. A few questions:

• What are your favorite baby products?
• Do you have a baby/parenting book you recommend?
• Where is the best place to shop for all things baby?

Have a great weekend.

Becoming a Mother

Nothing exciting to report on the adoption front. We are in the fun waiting to be chosen phase. (I thought infertility had taught me patience, but waiting for adoption has shown me that that is clearly not the case lol). Until I have great news to share, enjoy this quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that I love:

"To the women within the sound of my voice who dearly want to be mothers and are not, I say through your tears and ours on that subject, God will yet, in days that lie somewhere ahead, bring ‘hope to the desolate heart.’ As prophets have repeatedly taught from this pulpit, ultimately ‘no blessing shall be withheld’ from the faithful, even if those blessings do not come immediately. In the meantime we rejoice that the call to nurture is not limited to our own flesh and blood." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, May Ensign 1997, “Because She is a Mother”

Becoming a Mother

I love this adoption video. Enjoy.

Becoming Reflective

Recap of 2011:

• Landon Paul graduated from BYU.
• Landon Paul started his first post-grad job.
• We moved. 
• I got a new job.
• We got our dog Copper.
• I stopped eating gluten, and my stomach problems went away.
• We finished the adoption paperwork and became approved.

It was a great year full of lots of changes.

Bring it, 2012! 

Becoming a Mother

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! We'll be with our family and friends. Doesn't get much better than that.

Will you do something for me before we all go into Christmas hibernation? Like our adoption page on facebook. Many couples are chosen for adoption because friends of friends know people who are looking to place. Liking our page helps to spread the word, and we could really use that right now. Please know I can't thank you enough for what you've already done to spread the word. Your support has meant the world to us. Thank you so much!