1+2+1-1+2+1+or-1 (aka how to grow a family) part 1

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.  OR in our case: Hey we're in love, we can't get married, how to get a baby in a baby carriage?  Many people have asked me over the years why I chose foster/adoption. The easy answer: we have no seed.  The long answer:  Well, it is long and complicated and maybe you can find that answer as you read the blog.  Here is our journey in a nut shell.

1. Q: Adopt or Breed? A: Adopt (We have no seed.)

2. Q: Foster/Adopt, International, or Private? A: Foster/Adopt (We don't have to lie on the application and those kids are waiting for people to love them.)

3. Q: What agency to use? A: The one down the street that said we are welcome.

How the family took shape:  First I fell in love with my wife.  Six months later, I trapped her by  bringing home a puppy.  Six weeks later she got on board and brought home a kitten.  She went to law school; I worked as a nanny for nothing. We got married (in our church before God even though it's not legal).  We pretended to be grown ups and asked the adoption agency to find us a cute little baby.  Johnathan (then 14 months) +1 came home and we were 3.  He was 1 and as sweet as can be. When he was 3, we decided to do it again and we got Daniel (then 4) and Ashlyn (then 10 months) +2.  Then when Ash was 3 we decided to do it one LAST time and we got *Baby R*(then 4 months) +1.  Baby R, however,  was able to go back home -1 (foster to adopt means you foster first and adopt if needed).  So then we said what the heck and took in twins, Hazel and Frankie (then newborns) +2.  Then we had 5.  Then we got a call asking if we could take a biological sibling of kid(s) we already had in the home--we said of course, and then there was 6 with Matilda (then 4) +1.  Our kids are now all adopted (that's forever) except 1 (Matilda, who will be soon) and they are:

Daniel (10); Johnathan (9); Ashlyn (6); Matilda (6); Hazel and Frankie (soon to be 2).