By Emily
We just got back from our first meeting with our family lawyer. The meeting was very helpful! We found out that I can start the adoption process right now!! The laws have in fact changed and I do not have to wait a year to begin the process. Our lawyer is going to mail us a letter detailing what we have to collect in terms of legal documents (birth certificates, Dutch partnership papers, etc). Everything is presented to the court who decides if my adoption of the baby is approved. The lawyer was optimistic about the outcome. After 3 months and 1 day, I am able to adopt! This means that I could adopt babywazz on his/her birthday!! I actually have 3 days to "register" the baby with the Dutch government at which point hopefully my name will also be written on the birth certificate. Very good news!!! It will mean a lot to us to be protected as a family unit.
The one downside is the cost associated with this adoption. I am so so so thankful I can actually adopt babywazz but it really isn't fair that same-sex couples have to spend extra money to have the same family benefits as any other loving family. It's what we have to do though in order for me to also be a mother and I am happy it is possible.
Our 20 week ultrasound is tomorrow night! Will we find out or not?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Adopting BabyWazz
By Emily
Figuring out the laws in the Netherlands regarding second parent adoption has been a slight struggle. The most recent info I found stated that I would be able to adopt babywazz after living with Jackie for three years and living with the baby for one. The laws are not fair even in the Netherlands where same sex couples are given many more legal rights than in other countries. If I was Jackie's boyfriend, I could adopt the baby right away, even if I wasn't the baby daddy. It totally doesn't make sense!! Through some friend networking I was able to find another same sex couple who has a little baby and they are going through their adoption right now. I found out that as of 1 January 09, the rules changed and I can adopt babywazz right away (it still takes at least 3 months though)!!!! The laws are becoming equal:-) We have an appointment in 2 weeks with a family lawyer who is going to help give us the real scoop on the process and laws. It would mean so much to me to have my name on babywazz's birth certificate from the start - just like it should be.
Figuring out the laws in the Netherlands regarding second parent adoption has been a slight struggle. The most recent info I found stated that I would be able to adopt babywazz after living with Jackie for three years and living with the baby for one. The laws are not fair even in the Netherlands where same sex couples are given many more legal rights than in other countries. If I was Jackie's boyfriend, I could adopt the baby right away, even if I wasn't the baby daddy. It totally doesn't make sense!! Through some friend networking I was able to find another same sex couple who has a little baby and they are going through their adoption right now. I found out that as of 1 January 09, the rules changed and I can adopt babywazz right away (it still takes at least 3 months though)!!!! The laws are becoming equal:-) We have an appointment in 2 weeks with a family lawyer who is going to help give us the real scoop on the process and laws. It would mean so much to me to have my name on babywazz's birth certificate from the start - just like it should be.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
My Tummy Is All A Flutter!
So the last day or two I've been feeling funny fluttery/bubbly sensations on the left side of my tummy. At first I thought it was gas. Not a stretch of the imagination by any means... However, this sensation is something new - I've concluded it must by the little bugger making his/her presence known (probably by bouts of flatulence).
It's actually really amazing to know that the little avocado-sized bud is squirming around in there! I can't wait to feel it bounce and kick around more and more! I mostly can't wait for Em to put her hand on my tummy and feel a good solid kick or head butt! My little football (soccer) player in action... ;)
So, Em and I are also bouncing around too ... about finding out the sex of the baby! Our next echo (aka ultrasound) is on April 15 - we can find out then but aaaah! what do we do?! On the one hand, we will have a better idea of what we want to do with the soon-to-be baby room and buying clothes/styles if we find out! We're not into all the blue and pink stuff fully but there is only so much green, yellow and orange you can have to be gender neutral too. On the other hand, this is the biggest surprise out there - there are few surprises in the world these days so it makes sense to wait till the little bugger pops out in all its glory. Oh what to do?! Also, narrowing down the name is a good reason to find out the sex. or not. OOOH BOY (or girl!) what to do?!
Time will tell... literally.
What we are sure about is that we are getting more and more excited everyday for our little one! It's still unbelievable... but my growing stomach and gassy fetus is letting me know it's all real! I love it! I really think I love being pregnant! :)
-Jackie
It's actually really amazing to know that the little avocado-sized bud is squirming around in there! I can't wait to feel it bounce and kick around more and more! I mostly can't wait for Em to put her hand on my tummy and feel a good solid kick or head butt! My little football (soccer) player in action... ;)
So, Em and I are also bouncing around too ... about finding out the sex of the baby! Our next echo (aka ultrasound) is on April 15 - we can find out then but aaaah! what do we do?! On the one hand, we will have a better idea of what we want to do with the soon-to-be baby room and buying clothes/styles if we find out! We're not into all the blue and pink stuff fully but there is only so much green, yellow and orange you can have to be gender neutral too. On the other hand, this is the biggest surprise out there - there are few surprises in the world these days so it makes sense to wait till the little bugger pops out in all its glory. Oh what to do?! Also, narrowing down the name is a good reason to find out the sex. or not. OOOH BOY (or girl!) what to do?!
Time will tell... literally.
What we are sure about is that we are getting more and more excited everyday for our little one! It's still unbelievable... but my growing stomach and gassy fetus is letting me know it's all real! I love it! I really think I love being pregnant! :)
-Jackie
Monday, March 23, 2009
Joining the Blogger World
By Emily
We are about to "go live" with our blog!! By 'live' I mean that we are going to share with our friends and family as well as be linked via an LGBT parenting site (Thanks Liza!) Up until now, we haven't really shared our blog with anyone. I'm excited for people to read what we have to write. So far we have documented our conception story, followed by the good news. We will continue to add our thoughts as we experience our Expat Pregnancy in Amsterdam!!!
Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoy!!
We are about to "go live" with our blog!! By 'live' I mean that we are going to share with our friends and family as well as be linked via an LGBT parenting site (Thanks Liza!) Up until now, we haven't really shared our blog with anyone. I'm excited for people to read what we have to write. So far we have documented our conception story, followed by the good news. We will continue to add our thoughts as we experience our Expat Pregnancy in Amsterdam!!!
Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoy!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Inititals on the Beach
By Emily
Last week we were in Florida with my family, a hopeful tradition in the making. Jackie and I took a walk along the beach one day and I drew our initials in the sand. I then added '+ baby' and took a photo. This photo seemed like the perfect way to share our news on Faceb.ook. We'd already passed the 1st Trimester and we wanted to tell our friends and family before going live with our news online. By the time I took this photo, it was a good time to let our news be public. This image of our inititals went up on FB and was followed by almost 30 comments. It is really nice to have the support and congrats from our friends.
And here is a photo of Jackie's growing belly. Isn't she so cute?!
Last week we were in Florida with my family, a hopeful tradition in the making. Jackie and I took a walk along the beach one day and I drew our initials in the sand. I then added '+ baby' and took a photo. This photo seemed like the perfect way to share our news on Faceb.ook. We'd already passed the 1st Trimester and we wanted to tell our friends and family before going live with our news online. By the time I took this photo, it was a good time to let our news be public. This image of our inititals went up on FB and was followed by almost 30 comments. It is really nice to have the support and congrats from our friends.
And here is a photo of Jackie's growing belly. Isn't she so cute?!
I see a face!
By Emily
The other night I was staring at the ultrasound pics below and all of a sudden an image of a face popped out at me in the 2nd image. To me, it looks just like my dad!! Look at babywazz's head and you'll see a white line that looks like a smile and above that a nose and eyes!! It totally freaked me out but in a strange way I felt like perhaps there is part of me already in our baby.
We're cruising along in the 15th week. Jackie officially can't fit into her jeans and wears her maternity jeans which I think are quite flattering on her!
The other night I was staring at the ultrasound pics below and all of a sudden an image of a face popped out at me in the 2nd image. To me, it looks just like my dad!! Look at babywazz's head and you'll see a white line that looks like a smile and above that a nose and eyes!! It totally freaked me out but in a strange way I felt like perhaps there is part of me already in our baby.
We're cruising along in the 15th week. Jackie officially can't fit into her jeans and wears her maternity jeans which I think are quite flattering on her!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
First Photos
We had our first ultrasound yesterday! As you can see from the photos, we have a little baby growing in Jackie's womb. WOW. Our little wazzbaby is about 5cm. Everything seems a bit more real now that we heard a heartbeat and saw our baby jumping! We can't wait to meet this little guy/girl in 6+ months!!
On another note: Happy Birthday to Kennedy who was born last night to my friend Julie and her son Parker!! Quite a night of firsts!
On another note: Happy Birthday to Kennedy who was born last night to my friend Julie and her son Parker!! Quite a night of firsts!
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