Forums | Site Map

Home

Becoming a Family

by Shanna97

When my husband Pete and I decided to adopt, we neverexpected things to work out the way they did.

Two weeks after I had received the adoption applicationand information from the adoption agency, I received acall from Annie, the younger sister of a friend ofmine. I had known Annie vaguely for 10 years; she was18 now, but I still pictured her as the sandy-haired,blue-eyed little 8 year-old that I first met when Iwas 17. She explained that she was 5 months pregnant,and after giving it a lot of thoughts she had decidedthat she was in a bad situation to raise a baby. Sheknew Pete and I were hoping to adopt. Were weinterested in adopting her baby?

Did She Just Ask Us To Adopt Her Baby?

was stunned! Did she just ask us to adopt her baby? I knew MY answer to that one, but I needed to talk to Pete. He was hesitant at first; he couldn't believe that someone would just call us up and ask us to adopt her baby. I called Annie up and we talked for a long time. She told me what was going on in her life, and why she felt like it would be better for the baby if she placed him for adoption. She also told me she wanted more then the occasional letter and pictures; she wanted to be able to see the child from time to time.

I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't know too much about adoption, espcially one where the birthmother still had contact with the baby after the baby was placed. Talking to my husband, we decided that she would be making such a big sacrifice, and we should do whatever we could to make it easier on her. So Icalled her and told her that we wanted to adopt the baby if she would let us, and she agreed.

The first meeting between Annie and Pete happened duringour first meeting with the adoption attorney. We picked Annie up and I introduced the two of them. There was a long awkward silence. I mean, what do you say in a situation like this? The ride to the attorney's office was a long one, and the conversation was limited to cars, work, etc.- not one mention of where we were going or why. On the way back, my husband whispered to me that he was hungry... should we invite Annie? I smiled and told him to go ahead and ask her, and somewhat shyly he did. Annie agreed to have lunch with us, so we stopped at a nearby resteraunt. While we were eating, Annie asked Pete if he planned on naming the baby Pete Jr. if it was a boy. My husband, caught a little of guard, managed to reply, "No." Annie gave a sigh of relief and said, "I'mglad because I wouldn't want him to get teased. You know - the whole Pete and Re-Pete thing." Pete and I both burst out laughing, and then so did Annie. The ice was now broken.

Over the next couple of months, my husband and I developed quite a fondness for "our Annie." She was tough, funny, and yet so trusting at the same time. We took her to all her doctor appointments. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time, and I was there for the sonogram that showed that the baby was a boy.

Last-Minute Fears

Finally, 5 days after she was due, we got a call from her sister that Annie was in labor. I was a wreck on the way to the hospital! I had been so anxious for this moment to arrive and now that it had, I wanted to stop it. I was afraid that she would change her mind once the baby was born, and as long as she was pregnant I could believe that he was going to be mine.Now the baby was on his way, and my dream would either become a reality or become a painful memory.

Annie was incredible, she came through the delivery like such a trooper. As soon as Connor Timothy made his entranceinto the world, the nurse led us into another room so we could bond with him. Even as I held my son for the first time, my thoughts kept turning to the young girl in the next room and what she was going through just then. Annie spent that day in the hospital with Connor in her room. And then, as difficult as it was for her, she signed the adoption papers.

Annie's first post-hospital visit with Connor occurred three weeks later at our home. She seemed hesitant at first to see the baby; I am sure it was very painful for her. I tried to be understanding and supportive, and I hope I was. I don't remember for sure, because I was too busy falling in love with my son. Then, when Connor was 9 weeks old, I got a call from Annie. She had decided to leave her abusive boyfriend and wanted to know if our offer to let her stay with us still stood. We said of course it did, and I went and helped her pack up her stuff.

Having Annie at our house was a strange experience. I never felt threatened by her, but it was strange watching her interact with Connor. She seemed a little distant; I guess because she didn't want act like a mother to him, and didn't want to get more attached to him then she already was. For me the hard part was that I found myself second-guessing everything I did because I didn't want her to think I was bad mother. Annie stayed with us for 2 months, and somehow we came out of it closer then ever.

Next Page: Talking to Connor

2000 (c) Shanna97

Email Page to a Friend | Feedback | Adoption | Adoption Wiki | Parent Profiles | Infertility | Adoption Information

© Adopting.org 1995-2009. This site should not substitute personal professional, legal, or medical advice. The accuracy and personal applicability of this information is not guaranteed. By using it you agree to the terms of service, including jurisdiction and limitation of liability provisions.