Domestic Open Adoption
Shelby Barone is an adoptive mom, blogger, and mompreneur behind Glitterful Felt Stories.
Shelby has adopted two children in the U.S., and has a “homegrown” or biological child as well.
Shelby wanted to share about her experience in adopting domestically!
There are so many misconceptions about domestic adoption. My husband and I were able to adopt two beautiful, healthy, Caucasian children from birth within two years and did not spend a fortune!! It is possible if you use the right people to help you and use the power of prayer! All three of my children were in God’s plan to be together! All three have come from a different Mother, although they all look alike!
I am going to write about Ella’s adoption! I will keep her birthmother’s info private and call her “angel”.
My husband and I had been blessed with the Adoption of our first child Andrew at birth! He was born local in California and his adoption was such a positive experience that we could not wait to adopt again! We decided that since it took about a year to be placed with Andrew’s birthmother that we would put our name in early to have our second child. Within a month we received a call!! Andrew was only a little shy over a year and we were excited!! When we first met Ella’s birthmother she was an amazing smart young girl! She was newly pregnant and wanted to place her baby early in her pregnancy so she would have time to get to know the family that would raise her baby!
After we met “angel” it was a perfect match! She loved our family and we adored her’s! We were able to spend almost her entire pregnancy together. We would have dinner’s out together and go to doctor’s appointments together. It was the most amazing blessing to be a part of her pregnancy. When she went into labor with Ella my husband and I were able to be with her during her labor and delivery. It was a long and painful delivery for her, but she was so amazing! When Ella was born the doctor’s asked if she wanted to hold the baby and she directed them to give the baby to me! My husband and I were crying the most amazing tears of joy as I held our new baby and he cut the cord! I was able to stay in her room with “angel” and her Mother. I took care of the baby and her Mother helped take care of “angel”! Here were three women brought together by the birth of this baby and eternally bonded!
When Ella’s birthmother left the hospital it was not a sad time, but a happy time! Ella’s birthmother came to the house a couple of days after Ella was born to say good-bye in her own way. She took Ella up to her nursery and had her own personal moments with her! This was so important for “angel” and for Ella.
We had agreed to an open adoption, however “angel” only wanted pictures. She wanted Ella to know that we are her family, but that she still has an extension of family who love and adore her too! Although we do not talk verbally, we always send Christmas cards, and she is on all our photo email lists! She is happy to see that Ella is growing-up to be a happy, healthy little girl! That she chose to give her life and a family that would love her eternally!
Two years after Ella’s birth my husband and I got pregnant with our first homegrown child (biological). When I birthed Tyler I understood why God blessed him in my womb. It was so that I could truly understand what a selfless act these two women did for me by blessing me with their children. When I had to leave him in the NICU due to his premature birth I felt the pain in my heart that they felt when they left the hospital. Although I would return ten days later to take my baby home, they did not!
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19 January 2009, 6:41 pm
Thank you for sharing this beautiful adoption story and helping to dispel some fears about adopting in the US.
Jennifers last blog post..Renewing America’s Promise
20 January 2009, 2:39 am
I’m really enjoying the variety of adoption stories, some difficult, some easy. What a great relationship with the birth mother–close, but not too invasive.
20 January 2009, 2:50 pm
Thank you for sharing this story! It was so uplifting!
Megans last blog post..Avery
22 January 2009, 9:15 am
Truly a beautiful story and one that gives us hope. We live in Australia and we are wanting to adopt a baby girl privately. We have 4 beautiful boys and are wnating a litlle girl to spoil and love. Any information you could share regarding how to go about this would be greatly appreciated
24 January 2009, 4:39 am
[...] Shelby, the mompreneur behind Glitterful Felt Stories, recently contributed a guest post about her experience adopting domestically. [...]
21 March 2009, 5:09 am
Here from the party… I would love to adopt but the financial part is holding us back. Thanks for this story.
10 June 2011, 6:58 am
[...] to get more information. This will help you be more prepared for when you get the call. Find some domestic adoption stories to inspire you. Check out Adoptive Families magazine. Look at my Resource Links page for more to [...]