Waiting For Your New Baby

So, you and your spouse have decided to adopt a baby and you've gone to an adoption agency who has matched you with your future child. What do you in the meantime until the adoption process is over and the baby is in your arms? This is a question that a lot of adoptive parents ask themselves while they are waiting on all of their paperwork to get sorted through, or when they're waiting for the baby to be born. There are many things you can do while you wait, though!

• Create a “baby book”: Even though the baby isn't your own flesh and blood, he or she is still going to be your child and you will raise them into adulthood. It may be a good idea to create a memory book of the entire adoption process. You could include pictures of the adoption agency, you and your spouse, or of the birth mother and father. You could also include envelopes you got in the mail related to the adoption process. This book will be something your future child will cherish for the rest of their lives.

• Volunteer: You and your spouse could volunteer at an orphanage, hospital, school, or day care to help take care of children. You will need all the experience you can get, plus it will help lessen those antsy feelings of wanting to be with your future baby.

• Decorate a nursery: When your baby comes home from the hospital, he or she is going to need a room of their own. It will be fun to take time to decorate a nursery and get clothes and a crib prepared for your future bundle of joy.

• Take parenting classes: Being prepared as a parent is never a bad thing. It wouldn't hurt to take some parenting classes to get some great and helpful ideas about how to care for and raise your future child. There are probably some being offered already in your area.

• Take one last vacation: When the new baby comes, you and your spouse are going to be extremely busy caring for him or her. It won't be feasible at this point to take a vacation with a baby. It'd be nice to take one last vacation free from any parental responsibilities back at home.

• Childproof your home: Before the new baby arrives, you will need to childproof your home so that he or she is in a safe environment. This includes putting locks on cabinets that contain dangerous cleaning chemicals, utensils, and other items. You should also get outlet protectors to put into any empty outlets. Ensure all wiring is neatly placed away from ground level so that a baby can't reach at it, also.

• Buy supplies: You're going to need a lot of clothes, bibs, diapers, wipes, toys, and food for a new baby, so it may be time to stock up while you're waiting on him or her to arrive.