“Dating” Birthparents
With domestic adoptions, you may possibly have communication with the potential birthparents. This is an odd time because you don't know how to act and…...
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Adoptive Families Member Profile
Danielle Pennel
Missouri
Website
Twitter
My primary adoption interest or connection today...
Adoptive Parent (Domestic)
I have adopted or am adopting children from...
U.S. Newborn
From this country, I adopted or expect to adopt in...
March, 2008
The agency I used or am using for adoption from this country...
Adoption Advocates, Inc.
I have adopted or am adopting children from...
U.S. Newborn
From this country, I adopted or expect to adopt in...
February, 2005
The agency I used or am using for adoption from this country...
Adoption Advocates, Inc.
About my family...
Our family consists of three children, Keith (8/02), Irena (2/05) and Brent (3/08) through domestic newborn adoption. My husband, Paul, and I chose to adopt after three years of infertility and now know it was the path we were meant to take. We cannot imagine our family looking any different than it does. Paul and I are Caucasian while all three of my children are full Hispanic. So we are an obvious adoptive family to all who see us together. We don’t mind the stares because we have such great children that we’d take any opportunity to brag about them and how we adopted them to anyone who asks.
I spend time each month leading an Adoption Support Group sponsored by Infertility and Adoption Support, Inc. (http://infertilityandadoption.org). I love helping people in the adoption process. In addition to My Paperwork Pregnancies, I also write adoption articles at Three Yellow Roses (http://www.threeyellowroses.com/) and greatly enjoy it.
Unique aspects of our adoption story...
Our first adoption happened very quickly as we were selected by potential Birthparents only three weeks after completing our paperwork. Our Son was born two months later and I was present in the room when he came into the world.
Our second adoption was longer as it as 13 months before we adopted our Daughter. During this wait we did work with potential Bithparents for two months and they then decided to parent when labor began. It was a difficult time but we learned a lot from it. We received “the call” about our Daughter on Valentine’s Day when she was one day old. We took her from the hospital in our arms the next day.
Our third adoption was an average wait of nine months. He too, we learned about when he was only one day old. We drove 14.5 hours non-stop to meet him in the hospital and were completely exhausted when we first held him.
Our family is now complete. At least that’s what I tell my husband!
Our family's favorite pastimes...
My family seems to spend a lot of time goofing around. There is always a wrestling match, a lightsaber duel, a foot chase or a ball throwing competition going on. My two dogs have become quite adept at moving out of the way of flying toys and allowing crawling kids on top of them.
Our house is rarely quiet so we try to spend time outside either taking walks, riding bikes, playing in the sandbox or catching bugs. Paul and I really want our children to appreciate the beauty of Nature all around them.
We also seem to spend plenty of time in the car visiting family (we have none in town) or cramming in Summer vacations. I used to think car DVD players meant lazy parenting but now I think of them as a necessity for the parents’ sanity!
My Recent Blog Posts
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When I Told
One question that is asked of me often is “When did you tell your kids they were adopted?” It’s something that I knew I was…...
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Not a Happy New Mother
I thought that after adopting our first child I'd be thrilled. I'd fall madly in love with the baby. I'd bond instantly because this baby…...
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“Adopt” a New Word
This is the time of year where people reach out to help others in their community. One way to help others is to purchase holiday…...
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It’s Not Your Job
While going through infertility treatments, I began attending a women’s infertility support group where I received helpful, sanity-retaining pieces advice, one of which became my…...
My Recent Activity
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Danielle Pennel started the discussion Dating the Birth Parents in the forum Birth Family Connections
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Danielle Pennel replied to the discussion Ways of honoring a birthmother around an adopted child's birthday
My Recent Blog Comments
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"Dating" Birthparents
Lisa, Thank you so very much for your honest response. I think your advice is very valuable and I will be sure to pass it…...
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"Dating" Birthparents
I forgot to add that I am referring to my entry in My Paperwork Pregnancies at http://www.adoptivefamiliescircle.com/blogs/post/dating_the_birth_parents/. Did any of you feel like you were…...
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We Journeyed for Miles
CONGRATS!! Love the name - it is very appropriate! I too had two of my adoptions similar to your in which there was a phone…...
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Wishes in the Night
What a beautiful post. I love the way you and your family sent wishes to her Birthmother. I mainly do something private (like pray by…...
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When the Open Door Is Shut
Jill, What a wonderful site you came up with. It's misspelled above but here is the correct link: https://www.mylifetimeconnection.com/ . I will definitely look into…...
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