Adoption Update: Registering for Baby Stuff!

On Saturday we finished our last adoption class! YAY! (At least, it's our last one until after we're certified - you have to take classes to stay certified, but we wont focus on that right now.) The class was about major behavior problems and we learned how to physically restrain a child in a way that doesn't hurt them. Before that freaks you out, hardly anyone ever has to use this technique. It's just one of those things that you learn just in case the extreme happens. Because we're taking in a baby (for now) it wasn't really applicable. 

Anyways, the point is we're done with that step. To celebrate, on Saturday after class we registered at Babies R Us and Amazon.com. Registering at Babies R Us was interesting. It was a good experience over all, but they are definitely not set up for adoptive parents. Their computer system has to have a dude date. Um... we don't have any clue when we're getting our kid. So first we had to explain that to the registry worker. The workers were very nice and just put the farthest date the system would let them (Dec 1st), but it is a little frustrating that the store isn't adoption friendly. I mean, I know it's not the norm, but in this age of rising infertility it's also not unheard of. But whatever, I'm over it. 

There were three women working the registry center and one of them told us she had been in foster care. She was super nice and kept telling us that we'll be blessed for what we're doing, and that more people should be like us. The way she said she was a foster kid, but didn't ever say she was adopted, makes me believe she was in the system until she aged out. That always breaks my heart. But it was cool to be encouraged by some random person we didn't know. Strangers always have interesting reactions to our choice to adopt. I'd say they're almost always positive, but most are very ignorant about how it works. Not that I hold that against them, it just means there are always some awkward questions. But, considering we'll probably end up with kids of different races, I think we'll get pretty used to answering awkward questions.

The odd thing about the registration process was that once all the paperwork/computer stuff was done, instead of turning us loose with the scanner, one of the employees came with us to help us scan things. Is that normal? I couldn't tell if that was company policy or if she was just excited about the fact that we were adopting. She was SUPER sweet, but she basically tried to hold our hands and pick everything out for us. In the stroller section she's pointing out the one that has built in speakers to hook up to your iPhone. Um, that's not exactly what I look for in a stroller. I found one I liked and pulled it into the aisle to see how small it folded up and she started to get another employee to show us how to fold it. Um, I know how to fold a stroller. We had told her I was a nanny for 3 years but I don't think she understood what that implied. LJ has had over 30 foster babies in his house growing up and I was a nanny...we actually understand what outlet plugs are. After hinting several times, LJ had to outright thank her for her help and let her know that we could take it from there. I hope we didn't hurt her feelings, but he knew I've been looking forward to picking stuff out and having a third person help was never part of the plan.

When we finally were able to be on our our, we had fun. It's a little weird registering for a baby when you don't know the sex or the exact age. "Under the age of 3" leaves quite a bit of wiggle room. Many friends have suggested that we wait until we receive a child and then have a shower and get what we need. It's a good thought, but we'd rather get stuff for infant through toddler. If our first child isn't an infant, that doesn't mean the second one wont be. We hope to have a infant some time in our lives so now is the time to get the stuff. But it does mean we couldn't register for things like baby clothes, bottles, diapers, etc. We stuck with the bigger generic items we can easily store if our kid isn't an infant; swing, baby carrier, play mat, etc. 

LJ was pretty funny about some of the baby stuff. He's been around lots of babies, but there are a lot of new things out there that he hasn't seen. He made me loose it when we got to the area with swaddling stuff.

 "Look, Kris! It's a burrito baby! Look how big the head is!"

"Why does this baby look like a Walmart employee?"

 I wish I could remember the others, he's a pretty funny guy.

After Babies R Us I came home and registered on Amazon.com. I basically just looked up the stuff we had already picked out and if it was cheaper I switched the item over to Amazon. 

We ended the day with dinner at Torchy's Tacos. If you live in Austin or Houston and haven't been there then you need to fix that.

For those of you keeping up with our progress, here's where we are on our to do list:
To Do:

• Classes
• AFI 1 (1/8/13)
• AFI 2 (1/10/13)
• AFI 3 & 4 (1/12/13)
• AFI 5 (1/15/13)
• AFI 6 (1/17/13)
• AFI 7 & 8 (1/19/13)
• Meds Class (1/14/13)
• MCMT I & II (1/26/13)
• CPR/First Aid (1/28/13)
• Application
• Reference Letters (4) - they will send form to names we provide - we've turned in the info, waiting to hear from our friends that Arrow contacted them
• Criminal Background Check - Arrow called this past week, this is what they are currently working on
• NCIC Digital Fingerprints
• TB Test
• Fire Inspection (may require gas inspection)
• Smoke detector installed in all bedrooms and in hallway near bedrooms
• Need a screen in front of the fireplace
• Can bathroom door be unlocked from outside in an emergency? - Bought new door knob, need to install it.
• In Houston you have to get a permit first: 713-859-4322
• Inspector: 832-394-6919, 832-394-9083
• Environmental Inspection
• All medication needs to be locked - we registered for these giant magnets that will work as locks.
• All expired meds thrown out
• All cleaning fluids out of reach  - need to clean out area over washer/dryer and put all chemicals there
• No food on ground, even in pantry
• No expired food
• 5 lbs. Fire Extinguisher in kitchen with tag
• Evacuation Plan posted on wall
• Foster License displayed on wall (after we get it)
• Each mattress needs a protective covering - bought crib, need to get mattress cover
• First Aid kit - Thanks mom!
• 3 Days worth of food - Make a tub and store in closet
• All outlets need covers - we have them, we'll plug them in when everything else is done
• Copy of Marriage License
• Proof of Education (Diploma)
• CPR card (copy of front and back)
• Medical Consent Online Class (we get instructions after application is sent in)
• Psychotropic Medications Course (http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Training/Psychotropic_Medication/begin.asp)

• Copy of Driver Licenses

• Auto Insurance
• Floor Plan (with measurements of every room)
• Property Sketch/Pictures of property
• Short-Term Child Care Provider  - get parents to fill out application / take CPR classes

Just going through that made me realize how much we've gotten done in two months. Man, we're just moving right along! Parenthood, here we come!

Update:

Clarie you are so needy! Here are our registries:

Babies R Us 
Amazon