Congratulations to Jami and Ryan...Twice!

Posted on May 24, 2013

in Everlasting News

Congrats Jami and Ryan!

Jami and Ryan adopted their two precious angels through Everlasting Adoptions. Scout, their newest little girl, officially became their's on May 2, 2013. Lucky for us, they were kind enough to share their joy and excitement with us and the Everlasting community.

Look at them reach for each other...simply divine!

3 Steps Towards an Awesome Adoptive Parent Profile

Posted on May 20, 2013

in Adoption News

If you’re planning to adopt a newborn, one thing you will have fun doing is creating an adoptive parent profile. This profile is what will be shown to birthmothers who are considering adoption for their baby. Think of the adoptive parent profile as a resume - but instead of getting chosen for a new career, you are being chosen to provide an everlasting home for a child. The ideal adoptive parent profile should be light, fun, passionate and truly paint a picture of who you are. As part of our marketing services to prospective adoptive parents, Everlasting Adoptions will help you design and create this profile which is your most important marketing tool. It is the very first impression that you will make! After we have fun creating and designing colors, captions, quotes and clip art, together, you can be assured that you will have an adoptive parent profile that stands out to expecting birthparents. Adopting a newborn is an amazing experience, and we want it to be joyful and memorable for every set of adoptive parents.

From the professional staff at Everlasting Adoptions, here are 3 tips on how to make your adoptive parent profile shine:

Speak from the Heart

The best thing you can do is be honest and true. You will definitely want to spend some time thinking about what you want to say, but once you have an idea of your message, let the words flow naturally. You don’t want to overdo it, or sugar coat things so much that the message sounds forced. If you are passionate about adopting a baby (and we know you are) let your heart do the talking. It will never fail you!

Show, Don’t Tell

Through your words, illustrate your lifestyle and location as best you can. Describe things thoroughly and in great detail. Giving up a child for adoption is a huge decision, and birthmothers want to know as much as possible about adoptive parents. Instead of saying “we live in a suburban neighborhood” say, “we live in suburban neighborhood 20 miles from the city. It is a tight-knit community where children and families can often be found outside playing or mingling with other neighbors.” Emphasize all the great things about your lifestyle, family and community. Showing, not telling, is crucial to an adoptive parent profile because birthmothers want to envision the life her child could have with you.

Choose Your Best Photos

First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to a birthmother choosing an adoptive family. The photographs and captions you include in your adoptive parent profile are frequently the determining factor in whether or not she reads your profile (not chooses you to parent – but reads your profile). At a minimum, birthmothers make initial judgments based on your photos. Make sure the photos you add to your profile are warm, welcoming, and give off a good sense of who you are. Many adoptive parents like to share photos of their wedding, extended family members, memorable vacations, pets, past holidays, hobbies and their home. Your photos should be of good quality: clear, sharp, and in focus. Close up pictures, where birthmother can see features, are much better than those that are far away.

We look forward to the possibility of helping you create yours, soon! For immediate assistance, feel free to call 866-406-2702 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

4 Things to Know Before Adopting a Newborn

Posted on May 13, 2013

in Adoption News

As adoptive parents, the staff at Everlasting Adoptions is a great resource when it comes to what to expect during your infant adoption journey. Every couple who embarks on the adoption process has a unique experience. Some people adopt in a few months while other adoptions take a year or more. Some couples may have an adoption process that was smooth sailing throughout while another experienced some bumps in the road. No matter how your adoption journey pans out, here are five things you should know before adopting a newborn.

Ask Every Question You Have

Just like we were taught in grammar school, Everlasting Adoptions believes there is no such thing as a “stupid” question. Every question you have deserves an answer, and you should never leave a question unattended to no matter how minuscule it seems. Never be afraid to ask a question - experienced adoption professionals at Everlasting Adoptions understand how difficult it is to sort through all of the adoption information and are here to help you.

It’s Difficult - but Rewarding

With ups and downs along the way, adopting a newborn can be a stressful and difficult process. But throughout it all, remember the end goal - to have your baby in your arms and safe at home. There may be days when you want to cry or bury your head in frustration, but there will also be days where you are overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Adopting a newborn is meant to be a joyous experience that brings light and happiness to your life - don’t let the things that are beyond your control get the best of you. Your adoption will work on its own timetable and will fall into place accordingly.

It May Take Awhile

There is no such thing as a typical adoption, and the time it takes to complete a successful newborn adoption will be different for every adoptive family. Just because one family adopted in just a few short months, doesn’t mean your adoption will be as quick. Aside from being patient, the best advice Everlasting Adoptions can give is to be proactive. Complete the home study sooner rather than later, complete any paperwork in a timely fashion, and stay on top of adoption agencies, social workers, attorneys and financial officers.

You Will Need Support

Many adoptive parents find that support from family, friends or adoptive parent support groups help them tremendously throughout the adoption process. It’s always nice to be able to chat with people who are in the same boat as you, or to have that special friend or family member who is with you until the end. You know what’s even better? Having a solid support group will make it all the more exciting when you have a group to celebrate the arrival of your baby with. Having a safe place to share your fears, excitement and happiness with will make the adoption process a healthier place to be.

Every adoption is different, and as adoptive parents you cannot fully understand that until you are in the adoption process. At Everlasting Adoptions, we believe that every child deserves an everlasting family, and absolutely cannot wait to assist you during your adoption journey. Should you have any questions about adopting a newborn, do not hesitate to contact us. After all, we are available 24/7!

Newborn Adoption: 5 Steps to Help New Siblings Bond

Posted on May 6, 2013

in Adoption News

Adopting a child is one of the most exciting times of any family’s life. But what if you already have children? Introducing a new child into the family can induce jealousy or unruly behavior, regardless if the child is adopted or biological - but it doesn’t have to. These five tips are stepping stones to enjoying a peaceful and loving home with your new adopted child and the children you already have.

Tell Your Biological Children Before Placement

This may seem like a no-brainer, but parents introducing a new child to the family via adoption struggle with when to tell their biological children. We suggest introducing the topic to the children, or even other immediate or extended family, after the home study. It’s unwise to delve too deeply into the topic before you are 100% sure that not only do you want to adopt, you will adopt. Beware of setting unrealistic expectations to your current children. In the event the adoption is incomplete, it will be difficult to explain to a child why and when they will be a big brother or sister.

Prep Time

Along with introducing the idea of adoption to your children before the adoption happens, it will also be beneficial to teach your child about adoption. Prepare your child for the arrival of their little brother or sister by reinforcing their importance in the process, reading books about adoption, and illustrate the importance of being an older brother or sister.

One - on - One Time

Siblings do not always need to do things together. Whether a family consists of all biological children, all adopted children or both adopted and biological, one on one time with all children is 100% necessary. All children want to feel special, and all parents want to make their children feel special. One on one time will reinforce the message to your children that they are a key member of the family and loved equally by mom, dad and any siblings.

Play Time

This may be more difficult to achieve when adopting a newborn, but playtime between your biological child and adopted child is a great way to help build emotional connections. After the initial introduction, plan a trip to the park, a lunch outing or something as simple as car rides with both children. This will lay the foundation for a healthy sibling-to-sibling relationship, and show your biological child that the new sibling is forever bound to the family.

Build Traditions

Depending on the age of your biological child, your family may already have traditions set in place that he or she has grown accustomed to. Once the new child is settled into the family, it’s time to start new traditions that involve both children. This can be as simple as weekly visits to the park, or as big as yearly trips to your favorite vacation spot. These traditions create a commonality between both children and give them an equal sense of involvement in the family.

Infant adoption is a joyous and life changing experience, and Everlasting Adoptions looks forward to helping you expand your family through the loving process of adoption. We welcome all families to start their adoption journey with Everlasting Adoptions to experience the true miracle of adoption!

5 Ways to Speed Up the Adoption Process

Posted on April 30, 2013

in Blog

Adopting a newborn can be a lengthy process, and sometimes take longer than we had hoped. While a speedy adoption can never be guaranteed, there are ways to help move the process along. All you need is an open mind and a proactive attitude.

1. Expand the Pool of Children You are Willing to Adopt

Having an open mind when it comes to race, ethnicity and the sex of your child will have a huge impact on placement/connection times. If you limit your options to just a baby boy or just a baby girl, it may take longer to find a birthmother, especially if they do not know the sex of the child until he or she is born. Restrictions on race could also affect placement and connection times. Ultimately, willingness to adopt any race or gender is the best way to ensure quicker connections.

2. Prepare for the Baby’s Arrival

While it may seem a bit silly to build a nursery or playhouse when you have yet to be connected with a birthmother, these advancements will prove beneficial in the long run. For starters, keeping busy on projects like nurseries, play rooms, playhouses and baby proofing the house can create the illusion that time is passing quicker. Along with that perk, preparing for your child’s arrival well in advance will 100% ensure your home will ready when the big day finally approaches - and once things get rolling, it will approach fast!

3. Complete the Home Study Sooner

The adoption home study in itself can be a lengthy ordeal. Sometimes it can even take up to several months to complete. For that reason, plan and carry out your adoption home study sooner rather than later. The completion of your home study could give you an upper hand with social workers, adoption agencies and birthmothers since they know you have already taken preliminary measures and shown you are committed to adoption. Additionally, once your home study is officially complete you can really start to plan the arrival of your child.

4. Get Your Legal Documents Ready

As soon as you decide to adopt, obtain certified copies of you and your spouse’s birth certificates, along with your marriage license and tax returns for the previous 5-7 years. Once adoptive parents are connected with a birthmother, the adoption process can move along rather quickly, so it is best to prepare ahead of time.

5. Explore the Idea of an Open Adoption

When first considering adoption, many adoptive parents only consider closed adoption because it is the only type of adoption which they are familiar. What many adoptive parents don’t know is that there are actually several types of adoption. Exploring all types of adoption is an important step in your adoption journey as they will all present completely different futures for you, the birthmother and the baby. What type you choose can also influence how quickly you are connected with a birthmother. There is an increasing trend in open adoptions or semi open adoptions, so choosing these types could speed up the placement time.

These are just suggestions on how to speed up the adoption process. Some may prove to be more successful than others, or you may wish to stick to your original plan. Whatever you choose, Everlasting Adoptions is here to support you throughout your entire adoption process.

Throwing an Adoption Baby Shower

Posted on April 22, 2013

in Everlasting News

In a traditional world, baby showers are thrown for women and couples who are pregnant with their first child. Some even go on to have a shower for every child they carry. For those of us who are growing a family through infant adoption, wondering whether or not a baby shower is an appropriate gesture may have crossed your mind. The answer is - ABSOLUTELY. At Everlasting Adoptions, we believe that no matter how motherhood comes to you, it’s a miracle. So why not share that miracle with family and friends with a baby shower to prepare for the arrival of your child?

We do, however, have one large suggestion: hold the shower after the adoption is finalized and the baby is home. We recommend this because the entire adoption process can be unpredictable with possible delays. The exact due date is first and foremost unpredictable, and the amount of time the baby spends in the hospital varies case to case. Ultimately, planning the shower after the baby is with the parents ensures overall success for everyone involved - and the bundle of joy gets to be involved in the festivities!

Whether you’re hosting a shower for yourself or a friend or family is planning a shower for you, here are some tips for a successful adoption baby shower.

Invitations:

Along with holding the shower after the baby is successfully at home with Mom and Dad, the same is suggested for sending out the invitations. This gives the family some time to settle in and get in the swing of things with their new baby. Give guests about 3-5 weeks notice, and include the birth date of the baby on invitations so guests can purchase age appropriate clothing and gifts. Of course, include the child’s name on the invitations and a picture if available. Also - make sure to use appropriate wording on the invitations so all guests know this baby entered the family through adoption.

Games:

At any type of shower, games are a fun and interactive way to get guests smiling, laughing and having a good time. They are also a great way to celebrate the arrival of a new child. Since this is an adoption baby shower, traditional games such as “Guess How Big Mom’s Tummy Is” don’t apply. There are plenty of unique adoption baby shower games out there, such as Nursery Rhyme Jeopardy, Baby Shower Bingo, or Name that Nursery Rhyme! If you’re feeling spunky, create your own game all together!

Gifts:

Adoptive parents need just as much love and support as do birth parents. Friends and family can show them that love and support through the gifts they give. Guests are encouraged to find out as much as they can about the couple’s or individual’s adoption journey and, of course, the child and look for a gift that will truly mean something to them. Since the shower will be held a few weeks or months after the baby is placed with the parents, it is likely that the essentials will already be accounted for, such as pacifiers, diapers and formula. When giving a gift at an adoption baby shower, think age appropriate and meaningful.

The addition of a child to a family, be it by birth, or adoption is a special and wonderful event and one that should be celebrated. A baby shower for adopting parents is so meaningful for them and such a help! Any parents would be thrilled to have the love and support of family and friends at this exciting time of their lives.