I can’t believe how fast time is flying! The thing with adoption is that you never really know how much time you are going to have to prepare to bring the new baby home. Our match was finalized January 1st, and the scheduled birth date is February 21st.
We’ve got exactly 1 free weekend between now and the birth of Jack Jack. I’ll tell you more about why we only have one free weekend in a post soon to come. Yikes! So today, I’ve been putting together the weekend “get ready for baby” to do list. We’ll pack months of nesting into 48 hours. Here’s what it is looking like so far:
1. Paint. We started a painting project in our upstairs in the fall. While it is nearly completed, we didn’t do the hallways, Mr. Jacks’ office, the trim or the stairwell. I can’t envision doing that with 2 children, so we’re going to try and finish this weekend.
2. Ready the guest bedroom for my parents. My parents have graciously agreed to come stay with us for the first week. Mr. Jacks and I will have to be at the hospital most of the time, and we needed someone that Little Jacks could be with for at least 12 hours a day. Luckily they jumped at the chance. We feel so glad that Little Jacks will be with Grammatana and Grandpatana (as she calls them), since she’s done really well staying with them for a few hours before. (She’s only had a babysitter 4 times, and never more than 3 hours!)
3. Prepare meals for when the baby arrives. Before the arrival of Little Jacks, we made a couple lasagnes and some enchiladas to freeze for those early chaotic days of infanthood. We’d really like to do that again.
4. Go through all of our infant clothes. Sort them, clean them, and clear out drawer space for Jack Jack. Luckily, we stayed with mostly team Green clothes for Little Jacks, so everything we have will be usable regardless of sex!
5. Clean up the nursery. Little Jacks never slept there or even played much in there, but I feel the need to get it squeaky clean for Jack Jack.
6. Taxes: It’s just going to be better to get these done before we’re totally overwhelmed and distracted.
You might notice there are some things we’re not doing. We are not buying *anything*. I’m way too superstitious to buy anything (even a single pack of newborn diapers) until the baby comes home. My Jewish friends will understand.
I don’t know how we’ll get this all done in 48 hours, but we’re sure going to try!
What have I left off the list (that doesn’t involve buying anything)?
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Oh wow, you’re going to be busy! Did you not buy anything before Little Jacks was born, as well? I know about the superstitions in the Jewish faith, but does it have more to do with the adoption process this time?
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Wow so soon!! Have fun nesting!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
I think I would be more excited if I was sure that everything was going to go as planned!
@tictactoe: We’re actually not Jewish (though have plenty of Jewish family). I’m just incredibly superstitious!
honeydew / 7968 posts
good luck getting everything done this weekend! less than a month left! 2 months for me! and i need to start a list too!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@tequiero21: Let me know if you find anything I missed! It’s coming up quick for you too.
bananas / 9118 posts
So exciting how fast everything is happening!
We aren’t Jewish, but I completely understand the superstition. While ours was not adopted, I was still so superstitious that I really didn’t open anything and saved all receipts until we brought our boy home.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@lemondrop: I totally understand and appreciate your feelings!
guest
I just wanted to say that I’ve been totally lurking on you and I look forward to reading your entries every day
The adoption process is so interesting and I so appreciate you for sharing! I’m sending lots of happy and successful vibes your way!
cherry / 235 posts
Busy weekend! Sending luck (and energy!) to you both. Love your little family and following your family building.
honeydew / 7667 posts
Good luck on getting all that done!
kiwi / 575 posts
Good luck and have fun!!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Sat 9:45 am update: Guest room is sparkling. Walls are taped and prepped for painting. Meal plan complete. Taxes halfway done. Infant clothes washed, sorted, folded and put away! We got up early this morning
pomegranate / 3658 posts
I love the updates. Thanks so much for sharing this process with us, how exciting! Best of luck with the next few weeks.
I always interpreted “Team Green” to mean that it doesn’t *matter* what colors the baby wears – like, even if you did dress Little Jacks in all pink, it would be totally fine to use those same clothes for her baby brother. Which of course, it would be! I can’t wait to hear about him coming home and meeting his new family.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@PawPrints: Hmm… I always interpreted team Green as “we don’t know what you are so we’ll stick to yellows, greens and neutral colors until we know”.
Nice to know there’s another interpretation.
PS: Hallway is now painted! Stairwell is halfway painted. I feel hopeful about completing the list!
nectarine / 2750 posts
You go, Mrs. Jacks! Crossing off that to-do list.
Can’t wait to see your new bundle of joy!
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
This is so exciting! I can’t wait to hear how everything goes. I (selfishly) hope that you will feel comfortable enough to share your new son or daughter’s birth story, as I’ve always been very interested in the dynamics of a birth where there’s an adoption plan.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
Congrats congrats!!
Hope you enjoy your last free weekend before the baby arrives!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Update: Jacks family is completely exhausted. We had a painting snafu (the person who mixed the color messed up) so we have about 1 more hour of painting to do tomorrow
Everything else is pretty much done, though we have about 6 more minutes left of cooking to do. (And boy am I hungry!)
apple seed / 3 posts
Mrs. Jacks, I’ve just read every single one of your posts because I am interested in adoption, yet SO intimidated. I’m very much looking forward to hearing more about your journey, but I’m also curious about the financial commitment adoption requires. Without diving in too much to your personal biznuz, could you share that aspect with us?
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@mssocks: Please don’t be intimidated! It is very navigable (if you’ve planned a wedding, you can do this)!
We can talk more about finances, but the quick answer is that the financials can really vary. There’s a baby for everyone. Foster to adopt (what my sister did), is essentially free, and if the child has even mild special needs, they’ll get a stipend until they are 18. You can spend $50,000 in a private infant adoption if that’s what you are willing to spend, as well.
We had pretty strict criteria for our budget and found a situation that worked for the budget. Looking at baby already born situations (where you aren’t paying birthmother expenses) or for individuals who are already on Medicaid are a couple of ways to limit costs… but it’s no secret that American adoption can be very pricey if you let it!
Just remember, you are in control, even if it means waiting longer for a situation you can afford.