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The Ultra-Condensed Packing Checklist for Adopting Domestically

If there's one piece of advice the seasoned traveler will likely impart, it's to pack lightly! This recommendation couldn't be more pertinent than for those traveling to adopt a child from a different area or state.

In this leg of the adoption journey, when bringing baby home, you will find that the items you need for baby will likely occupy every inch of extra space you may have reserved for yourself, in life before baby.

Here is a streamlined checklist of items you might need:

For Baby:
____ Disposable diapers (newborn size) and baby wipes (be sure to buy wipes for sensitive skin, as most newborn are sensitive to wipes containing fragrance, dyes or other products)
____ Bottle and nipples (you will be able to buy formula from a nearby store when you learn what is being used by the hospital)
____ Burp cloths (you can use cloth diapers or small towels)
____ Diaper bag and portable changing pad
____ Weather-appropriate clothing
____ Baby shampoo, lotion, diaper rash cream, etc. (these may also be supplied by the hospital, so you may wish to wait on these items, as well)
____ Baby blankets
____ Onesies
____ Baby booties or socks
____ Infant carrier/car seat
____ Pacifiers

For Mom and Dad:
____ A few basic clothing items which can be easily mixed and matched)
____ Dress clothes for court (if your adoption requires a court appearance)
____ Comfortable shoes
____ Cell phone and charger (if you don't have one, please purchase one as it will make it easier to reach you during this process)
____ What to Expect the First Year by Arlene Eisenberg (a good reference for first time parents when they have questions at 1 a.m. or are too embarrassed to call someone)
____ A place for baby to sleep while awaiting ICPC approval (pack n' play, travel baby bed or make arrangements for the hotel to provide a crib)
____ Personal hygiene products (shampoo, shaving cream, mouthwash, deodorant, moisturizer, waterless hand-wash, etc.)
____ Snacks
____ Camera (and lots of batteries or camera charger cord)
____ Travel journal to document the experience
____ A good book
____ All travel and adoption documents!

Happily Ever After: Elson, Wendy and Carson's Adoption Story

One family's story of their long wait, and how it all seemed to be destiny

It is easy to become discouraged if you wait longer than the average wait time. That is where we found ourselves in September of 2006. We were in the Traditional I Program and had been waiting for 18 months. At this time I promised myself that if our dream ever did come true that we would share our story to give hope to other couples that are not matched quickly!

Finally on December 12th, after 21 months of waiting, we got the call that took our breath away. A birth mom had chosen us and she was due in March. The whole situation was so perfect for us that it seemed too good to be true. After waiting so long we were both a little scared to really believe this would be our baby. After all, don't most couples have to go through a failed match or two before they have a match that is successful?

American Adoptions kept us updated over the next couple of months about doctor appointments and calls from the birth mom. One day the phone rang and it was American Adoptions calling to say that our birth mom had just learned the baby's gender and she wanted to tell me herself. I had about two seconds to prepare for speaking with her the first time and her first words to me were "Congratulations, you are having a boy!" This woman was so amazing - here she was congratulating us!

We would like to thank American Adoptions - Megan Spaeth, for helping us to keep hoping and now we truly believe what you told us all along - "Good things come to those who wait." Jennifer Van Gundy, for the wonderful relationship you built with Carson's birth mom. We truly believe that is the reason we had such a successful match. You were so great about passing on all the details to us along the way. Megan Riley-Poindexter, for all the help with our paperwork and along with that the great conversations. You were such an encouragement to us! We miss you, but hope you are doing well. And to everyone else at American Adoptions - Thank You! Thank you for the job you do every day to help create a family like ours. It has truly been an amazing journey!

Have a question for American Adoptions?