As I mentioned at the end of Max’s blog – I wasn’t thrilled with Kazakhstan or its people. I think it was a combination of missing my daughter and having expectations to meet people I loved and enjoy the country like I did during Becca’s adoption. Although Larry was sold on Kazakhstan – I was not – so we researched and explored until we decided to adopt from Latvia. Our paperwork was in and we were just waiting on the ‘call’ and we would travel.

As I’ve said in previous posts – I firmly believe we are led down certain paths and are joined with our children when the timing is right. During our wait – I was approached by the person who helped us at the very beginning of Max’s adoption... more

As you read my previous blog about Albania – did you wonder why I’m writing for a Kazakhstan adoption blog? ;-) That would lead me to the adoption journey to of our second child – Max – again I went through a few years of infertility treatments – my husband’s heart had to be in the right place for adoption and he wondered after Max’s adoption – why he had waited and I still think – we waited because “Max” wasn’t born and he was our child and life circumstance brought us to him.

Being “savvy” in international adoption – we had filed for independent adoption through Ukraine and were paper ready. But life again had another path for us to follow and we were guided through an online... more

Welcome! I’m excited to start my new “job” as a blogger and hope to hear from many new and old friends as I begin my new world of blogging!

I wanted to introduce myself to you – my name is Cyndi and I am married to my best friend – Larry – who happens to also be my husband. ;-) We live in Ohio and have three beautiful children who entered our lives through international adoption. Over the next few days – I’ll introduce my children.

I entered the “adoption world” in 1991 when I was given the best gift in my entire life – I became a mom – a dream of mine since childhood……..

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Someone over on the adoption.com China forum posted an excellent question.

Can anybody suggest good questions to use to interview adoption agencies with?

And some great responses:

The first thing I would do is call or e- mail as many agencys as you can. They are all really good at getting info to you quickly.(if they are not, don't want to use them) Some of these packets are filled w/ tons and tons od information. Many will have dvd's also. A lot also had references. Call them! I actually met a few great people doing that. After you weed thru that call your top ones... more

Tonight my son got a haircut with my hairdresser. It wasn't too bad really, a little whining, but my hairdresser is the best. Of course, it isn't every day your parents and grandparents all show up to watch you get a simple haircut.

I laughed to myself as my hairdreser got to work. My mom is using clips to imitate sharks, my dad is talking to him about the haircut he got today, I am using a locked grip to hold my son still, and my husband is standing there with a huge grin. This much fuss over a haircut.

My mother-in-law attempted the last cut. He made her cry when he fussed. Haircut over after a few locks gone.

In anticipation of the haircut, my mom came down... more

Ok, after reading this, some of you might think, yep, today is the day she finally lost it.

Our son is approaching 27 months. He has definitely developed a personality. He struggles right now because his little brain is moving about 100 times faster than his mouth. He has so many little opinions and he just can't get them all out fast enough!

So as these personality traits have exposed themselves, I have been shocked to observe how many traits my son and I share. Yes, he is adopted, so these can't be biologically-based traits, but I have to think adopted children take on many traits of their adoptive parents.

Now that theory stands for some of the traits, but not... more

Building on the last post, one of our readers posed some good questions, so we will keep going on this...

How old is considered an older child adoption? Babies are less than two, toddlers 2-4?

There isn't a hard and fast rule, but basically children under two are considered "infants." We were told by the orphanage director that once children reach over 2, they start becoming harder to place. At age 5, most children are moved to the older children home where they are rarely considered for adoption.

Who keeps track of the " most requested " age or gender or sibling group?

Again, there is no governmental agency... more

Since I wrote my post on So What Are You Wondering About, I have received some great questions. Today's featured post is a long one, with many questions embedded in it. I will give you the post, and then try to break down the questions one by one.

I am wondering why so many posts state to choose an agency that is connected to a lot of different regions (Baby Houses?) than I can not find a list of which agencies are in what regions in Kazakhstan. I want to know how you can switch adoption countries depending on who gives the soonest or best match referal? I want to know who has a... more

So are you pulling your hair out yet? Don't you hate the wait?

The early part of your adoption was so much easier. You had paperwork to fill out, homestudy visits, more paperwork, authentications....but now it's done. Your dossier has been sent to Kazakhstan. Now the real waiting begins.

Now would be a terrific time to start an adoption journal. What type of journal you begin depends on your audience. Do you want to keep this for only yourself? Is it for your child to read later? Then consider a handwritten, private journal, or one on your personal computer (although unless you are taking your computer with you to Kaz an old-fashioned diary works best).

Do you... more

A kind poster asked this question, and it is an excellent one deserving of its own post.

I am guessing since she posted the comment she wouldn't mind me sharing the basic facts of her situation...basically she has a medical condition which results in her taking drugs that "encourage fertility." She inquired of her agency, who then inquired of Kazakhstan officials, what would happen if she was pregnant at the time of the adoption. The answer she received was she would not be allowed to adopt.

Ironically, one of the single women we travelled with adopted while pregnant. She was early in her pregnancy, and I don't think anyone ever knew the difference. I do know that in our... more