Do you have any baby socks that you saved from when your child was in the hospital or perhaps your child’s adoptive parents gave you a special pair as a keepsake or something? I do have a pair of Charlie’s socks that he wore while he was in the hospital. I kept them and put them in my “Charlie memory box.” There is just something so sweet and precious about those tiny little baby socks; especially now that he is getting so big!

I came across this really cute keepsake craft involving... more

“Open Adoption” is a very broad term and leaves room for many different interpretations. In open adoptions, what works for one set of birthparents, adoptive parents, and adopted child may not necessarily work for other sets of birthparents, adoptive parents, and adopted children in open adoption relationships. In open adoptions, “one size definitely does not fit all.”

The amount and frequency of openness in open adoptions is going to vary in each situation based on the circumstances surrounding each individual open adoption plan and the people participating in that open... more

I love the idea that a local birthmother shared with me about the scrapbook she and her daughter’s adoptive mother are building together. While many birthmothers or adoptive mothers create scrapbooks or lifebooks for their children individually, this process is unique and has created a way for the two mothers of this one little girl to bond.

Monica* and her daughter’s adoptive mother, Kristy*, are creating their daughter’s (Jenifer) scrapbook/lifebook together. Monica and Kristy didn’t have a whole lot of time to get to know one another before Jenifer* was born as Monica... more

It can be upsetting to me as a birthmother when a visit gets cancelled whether it is me doing the cancelling or Charlie’s Mom; but it does happen from time to time for a myriad of different reasons such as someone got sick, there was an emergency, something else came up that could not be done at a later time, something happened at work, you’re struggling emotionally at that time and can’t handle a visit; just to name a few.

In the six years that Charlie has been born and we’ve had an open adoption arrangement, we’ve only had to cancel visits a few times and I... more

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to keep a gratitude journal by writing down something I am grateful for about five times a week. When starting this project, I realized I wanted something nice to write in so I decided to make myself a journal.

It was a pretty easy project and didn’t take a whole lot of time. Other birthmothers could make these journals to use to write about their thoughts and feelings as a birthmother or to use as a place to write notes from visits, updates, etc. Adoptive moms could make these as a gift for their child’s birthmom.

I chose... more

I love crafts that incorporate a child’s handprints and think that these type of crafts making awesome keepsakes for birthmothers. So, today I will share a great and easy Christmas ornament craft that adoptive parents can make or help their child make for their child’s birthmom or anyone in their birth family really!

Materials needed: White foam Red Felt Flesh colored Felt White fake fur or felt Wiggly eyes (optional) Glue Ribbon

Instructions: 1. Trace your child’s handprint onto the white... more

I promised in my October Review, November Preview post that I would begin sharing ideas to create your own Christmas ornaments. I know, it seems early, doesn’t it? But Christmas is really not that far away and if you want to make ornaments for those people in your life with an adoption connection, you need to get started early so you have time to do it.

Giving an ornament to the people in your life related to adoption... more

It’s hard to believe that Christmas right around the corner but it is! It will be here before we know it. If you are the type of person who enjoys making home made gifts for people then you definitely should start soon!

This month’s crafts post is a very cute photo album that would be great for the upcoming holiday season or just any time at all really! Adoptive moms can make these as an awesome gift for their children’s birthmothers or birth grandmothers. Birthmoms could make one in a fun character fabric for their child to hold special photos in or just make one for... more

I thought it might be fun to give the four things meme a try so here is my go at it.

Four things I thought about adoption when I was a child: (Ok, this one was hard because I don’t really remember that much about my thoughts on adoption as a child! I don’t know that I really paid attention to it.) 1. That only teenagers were birthmothers and it was usually their first child they were placing for adoption. (I probably wouldn’t have said placing for adoption when I was a child either!) 2. That there were only closed adoptions. 3. That adopted... more

As part of Charlie’s birthday gift, I gave him a tote bag that I am embellished with his name and dinosaurs. I was giving him some books and art stuff and thought putting it in a tote bag might be good to help him keep it together and knew that he is very fond of dinosaurs, so I chose to embellish with dinosaur appliqués. I always try to give Charlie’s sister, N, a little something too, so I made her a fun smaller bag that could be used as a purse if she wanted to.

These may look hard to make but they really aren’t once you get started! Birthmoms could make one for their child;... more