Most people in the adoption community are aware that November is National Adoption month every year, with National Adoption Day occurring on November 17.

November is just 15 days away, and now is the time to start thinking about and planning for what you are doing to do during National Adoption Month to promote, support and educate others about adoption.

I think for a lot of people it can be hard to know just exactly what to do for National Adoption Month. Lots of people write about it on their blogs, or mention it at their jobs or to their families. But there is much more that we can do.

Adoption.com is helping families get involved in National Adoption Month this... more

One of my favorite pieces of advice for having quality time (and quality bonding and attachment opportunities) for adoptive families is to get out side. When you get out of the house and in to the fresh air and do something fun together as a family, the results can be almost magical.

Our kids have been back in school for almost two months now (how did that happen??) and we have gotten into a good school-year groove. However with the kids getting home, doing homework, eating an early dinner, getting bathed and getting into bed nice and early, and with the sun going down earlier and earlier each day, there is not much time during the week to get outside and play as a family, especially... more

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I love the fall colors. I love the cooler weather. I love Halloween and the promise of the holidays just around the corner.

This fall has been made extra special by the fact that it is Belane's first fall with us (she came home last November, but the weather is definitely winter around here by then). Halloween is feeling extra special to me too, partly because it is Belane's first Halloween, and partly because I was stuck in Ethiopia for last Halloween and missed spending one of my favorite and one of the most fun... more

For parents adopting African or African-American children, unless you are adopting a baby who is completely bald, hair care is going to be an issue you have to deal with right away.

Finding the right hair products for your child often involves a lot of trial and error. You can read about some of our trials and errors with products in my hair adventures posts (part one here, part two here and part three here).... more

If you are a parent who has adopted a child transracially, or if you are a person who was adopted transracially, here is an opportunity to participate in a study on transracial adoption. (Please note that this study seems to be interested in white parents who have adopted black children, and black children adopted by white parents). Also note that the study is only allowing adoptees that are 18 years or older to participate.

Cardell Jacobson, who teaches at Brigham Young University and does research on race and ethnic relations, social psychology, and social problems, and Darron Smith, a PhD student at the University of Utah in the... more

As I dream of traveling and am going over my packing lists and starting to think about what I will pack for our trip to Ethiopia to get Solomon, I thought it would be a fun idea to start doing some product reviews and recommendations on things I have on my packing lists.

Today I am going to recommend this awesome fleece pouch from Kangaroo Korner.

I have been a believer in slings and carriers for a long time, and I believe that with newly... more

Unless you are adopting through your local foster care agency or are having a child escorted, you will be doing some sort of traveling for your adoption. Most international adoptions involve international travel, and domestic adoption can involve travel to the next state or to the other side of the country. While most people think of adoption travel in regards to international adoption, our longest adoption trip was that to South Carolina to get our son, Marcus.

Since travel is one of the exciting parts of adoption, and the part that many adoptive... more

All adoptive parents know that money, and how to come up with enough of it to pay for an adoption, is often a huge concern when deciding to adopt. International adoptions almost always end up costing over $10,000 (and sometimes double or triple that) between agency fees, homestudy fees, immigration fees and travel or escorting costs.

Fees for domestic adoptions are often in the $10-20,000 range, with exceptions (sometimes) for special... more

Shane was the third child to join our family, but is now in the middle of the pack, with four older siblings and five younger siblings. Shane is turning eight years old next week, and the kid is a hoot.

Everybody loves Shane. He is loving, sweet, outgoing, funny and thoughtful. He rarely gets in trouble with Mom or Dad. The big kids think he is hilarious. The little kids think he walks on water. His teachers think he is a genius and the "nicest boy ever". All of the boys at school want to be his friend, and all of the girls at school pay him way too much attention for... more

We got word yesterday that our dossier was on its way to Ethiopia as of Monday. We also got news that was pretty encouraging regarding the rest of the process. We had been assuming that we would have a very long wait for a court date since the courts in Ethiopia are just reopening after being closed for two months for the rainy season, but our agency assured us that they do not have a backlog and things will move right along.

Once our paperwork arrives in Ethiopia, the dossier will be translated and then it will be prepared for court. We have been told that our paperwork will likely be submitted to court in November, and by my estimates, I am guessing we will have a court date in early... more