Heritage Adoption Services: Testimony/Reese

Our Family Journey Completed

Back in November of 2006 we began our family adventure with Heritage. We were drawn to Heritage after viewing the website and feeling immediately comfortable with the openness and honesty presented in the pages. After meeting with the staff we knew we had found a partner and an advocate for our journey. We were ecstatic when in February of 2007 we were matched with a Birth Mother and in March brought our daughter Hallie home.

When Hallie turned two this year we decided that the time was right to complete our family with a second child. We immediately returned to Heritage and began talking to Deborah about changes in the world of adoption and what we could expect in adopting a second child. After our expectations were set for a wait of 6-9 months we were thrilled to be notified of a birth mother and father that were considering us for a match after only 9 weeks.

We have a fully open adoption with our daughter's birth mother and the relationship is wonderful. The experience we have had with our son, Reese's, birth mother, father and extended family has been unbelievable.

Our son's birth parents, though in a committed relationship, realized early on in the pregnancy that they were not prepared to parent. By the time that we were formally matched, Reese's birth parent's families were 100% supportive of the decision to place him with us as his parents.

Reese's birth mother asked us to be at the hospital during her labor and delivery, and even asked us to be present in the room when he was born. When we arrived at the hospital the day Reese was born, we were joined by both sets of grandparents, sisters of both Reese's birth mom and dad, and a few very close friends of the family. For much of the labor we spent time together; a large and new extended family getting to know each other. When it came time for the actual delivery, we were in the room. I was honored to stand side by side with Reese's maternal grandmother helping to support his birth mother as she delivered him.

After his birth, we shared the most unbelievable hour or so as we all, the entire extended family, exclaimed over his size, who he looks like, and how much hair he has. Everyone got to hold him, say hello and give him blessings. Before Reese was delivered to the nursery for the night and everyone retired home, we shared a prayer, holding hands and giving thanks for this new life and new family. The love that Reese has is amazing. We are so happy that his birth parents are so loved and supported as well. It is almost too hard to put into words the emotion the day and the experience.

Through adoption we have completed our family. We are blessed to know how the definition of family changes every day, and how our family and our children lives are enhanced by the extended families they will know as they grow up.

As with the adoption of Hallie, Heritage's guidance and support through our adoption of Reese was beyond what we could have asked for. Deborah, Vicki and Cindy spent time getting to know us as a family, listening to our questions, and making sure that we felt comfortable throughout the process. As important to us was that Deborah was there for Reese's birth parents before, during and after the pregnancy and placement. We are so glad that we returned to Heritage and feel so fulfilled now that our family is complete.

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Our Family Journey Completed

Back in November of 2006 we began our family adventure with Heritage. We were drawn to Heritage after viewing the website and feeling immediately comfortable with the openness and honesty presented in the pages. After meeting with the staff we knew we had found a partner and an advocate for our journey. We were ecstatic when in February of 2007 we were matched with a Birth Mother and in March brought our daughter Hallie home.

When Hallie turned two this year we decided that the time was right to complete our family with a second child. We immediately returned to Heritage and began talking to Deborah about changes in the world of adoption and what we could expect in adopting a second child. After our expectations were set for a wait of 6-9 months we were thrilled to be notified of a birth mother and father that were considering us for a match after only 9 weeks.

We have a fully open adoption with our daughter's birth mother and the relationship is wonderful. The experience we have had with our son, Reese's, birth mother, father and extended family has been unbelievable.

Our son's birth parents, though in a committed relationship, realized early on in the pregnancy that they were not prepared to parent. By the time that we were formally matched, Reese's birth parent's families were 100% supportive of the decision to place him with us as his parents.

Reese's birth mother asked us to be at the hospital during her labor and delivery, and even asked us to be present in the room when he was born. When we arrived at the hospital the day Reese was born, we were joined by both sets of grandparents, sisters of both Reese's birth mom and dad, and a few very close friends of the family. For much of the labor we spent time together; a large and new extended family getting to know each other. When it came time for the actual delivery, we were in the room. I was honored to stand side by side with Reese's maternal grandmother helping to support his birth mother as she delivered him.

After his birth, we shared the most unbelievable hour or so as we all, the entire extended family, exclaimed over his size, who he looks like, and how much hair he has. Everyone got to hold him, say hello and give him blessings. Before Reese was delivered to the nursery for the night and everyone retired home, we shared a prayer, holding hands and giving thanks for this new life and new family. The love that Reese has is amazing. We are so happy that his birth parents are so loved and supported as well. It is almost too hard to put into words the emotion the day and the experience.

Through adoption we have completed our family. We are blessed to know how the definition of family changes every day, and how our family and our children lives are enhanced by the extended families they will know as they grow up.

As with the adoption of Hallie, Heritage's guidance and support through our adoption of Reese was beyond what we could have asked for. Deborah, Vicki and Cindy spent time getting to know us as a family, listening to our questions, and making sure that we felt comfortable throughout the process. As important to us was that Deborah was there for Reese's birth parents before, during and after the pregnancy and placement. We are so glad that we returned to Heritage and feel so fulfilled now that our family is complete.

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