We are blown away with the love we’ve received since announcing our pursuit of a second adoption yesterday. Thank you for the overwhelming support! Today, we wanted to give more details about this specific adoption (it will look different than the first), answer some frequently asked questions, and share how you can continue to support us. Please never hesitate to ask us questions. Our hope is that we can continue to be a resource, shining a light on the realities of adoption.
"Adoption! International or domestic? How old? Gender? Race?"
Last time, we used adoption consultants to help connect us with an expectant mother. We matched with a baby boy that was due in early December in Phoenix, AZ. Once we matched with this specific baby, our consultants took a back seat role, handing us off to the agency the expectant mother was connected with. We were assigned a case worker that worked with both us as the potential adoptive couple and the expectant mother. We flew out to Arizona, baby boy was born, and after a few days, ended up experiencing a failed adoption where the mother decided she wanted to try and parent. 24 hours later we were connected with Xavier’s first mama as she was waiting to be induced. The rest is history. All that to be said, we will be working with the agency that we matched with initially for the first baby boy. We will be considered a “rollover family” which means since we experienced a failed match with this agency, it is their priority to help us match with another expectant mother. We will be pursuing domestic infant adoption through them. We are open to either gender and any race.
"Will you know the birth family?"
We will always desire an open adoption. We believe this is such a good opportunity to love another family and include them in our child's life. Ultimately, it is up to the expectant mama, but we do desire to have a relationship with her! It has been so important for us to pray for Xavier’s first mama every night, speak about her often to him, and keep in touch with her.
“Where are you in the process?”
We are currently working on updating our home study! Our first home study expired after a year. Once we have the paperwork completed (which includes updated background checks, physicals, drug tests etc.), we’ll send the information to our social worker prior to our first home visit and then she’ll begin typing up the home study to send to our agency stating that we are equipped and fit to adopt a child. We are also working on updating our profile book that the agency will present to birth mothers to accurately represent our life as a family of 3. Once the home study and profile book are complete, we will be an active waiting family!
“How can we support you in this journey?”
Pray for us and our birth family- Above all else, this is what we ask of you! We will need your prayers as we update our home study, wait to be matched, wait for the birth of baby, and wait to then get cleared by the state to take baby home. Please pray for all of the expectant mothers that are making the difficult, brave decision to place their babies for adoption. We have no idea what kind of situation our birth mama and her family are going through, but we know this won’t be easy for them. Pray for her heart and that she chooses life for her baby.
Celebrate with us- Just like anyone who announces that they are pregnant, we are also over the moon excited about the growth of our family! Yes, our process will look a little different than a pregnant couple, but we are just as thrilled about this adoption as we would be over a pregnancy. We want you to celebrate with us and enjoy this season of preparation and waiting for Baby M.
Giving- Adoption is costly, but again we are trusting that the Lord will provide. We are expecting our adoption will cost about $45-55k. That money covers consulting/agency fees, legal fees, home study fees, court fees, and travel costs, plus expenses and counseling for the expectant mother. Read our post detailing about why adoption costs what it does. The cost is very intimidating and most people are shocked when they learn about the financial side of adoption. However, the process for one parent entrusting a baby to another is complex and difficult. Many people have to be involved, and the expectant mother often needs a large amount of financial support to choose life.
Spread the word- The more people that know about our adoption, the more opportunities we'll have to fundraise to help get Baby M home! We would be humbled if you shared our story with people that you know. Last time it was truly shocking the amount of support we received from people who we barely knew or had NEVER met!
We couldn't be more grateful for how y'all have already supported us in this decision to pursue adoption a second time. We are excited to walk down this road with you again! Every dollar, every prayer, every encouraging text, every hug matters. We want you to feel like you are part of our community when you pray for us, love on us, and support us financially.
Xavier at 7 months with the completed puzzle that now hangs in his room!
We are doing another puzzle fundraiser to help offset the immense cost of adoption and to bring Baby M home. We love the puzzle because of the way it ties people into the beautiful story that is our adoption. Every name will be written on a puzzle piece that will become a part of a puzzle that will hang on Baby M’s wall. It will serve as a reminder of all the people who loved Baby M, like us, before they were even ours.
We purchased a blank, 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Each puzzle piece will “cost” $20. So, for example, if someone gives $100, they would have “purchased” 5 puzzle pieces. We hoped this would be a good way to get everyone involved if they desire. Donations of all sizes are needed, and it is a clear representation of what can happen when a community comes together!
To “buy” a puzzle piece:
1. Venmo @TheMorans or Click HERE
2. Place a donation
3. Done
We’ll write your name on the puzzle piece(s) and put it in the puzzle!
We intentionally purchased a blank puzzle to write the donor’s name on each piece that they purchased. We want to be able to have a physical representation that captures each and every person who supported us in our walk through adoption and who helped make it possible.
Once completed, we’ll frame and hang it Baby M’s room. This will serve as a reminder to our child that nothing is impossible to God and that there were people who made a way for them. Each puzzle piece is a person and added all together makes up our village. Each puzzle piece is a life who made life possible for someone else. Our child will see that and, for the rest of their life, know that they are loved.