Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 13, 2004 03:49 PM

Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

HI! I havent posted on here in a long time..we have had an awful lot going on..but we are so excited to share with the world that we are adopting two boys from Ethiopia!!! they are ages 7 and 8, its been a crazy journey and we almost didnt get these boys, someone almost adopted one of them..but its official...THEY ARE OURS!!! I will most likley travel in May to bring them home!!! They are so beautiful and Im so in love with them...it amazes me how much I love them and Ive never even met them in real!
So here is where I need creative ideas...the way they find out they have a family is when the social worker walks in to their orphanage and gives them a package..we are allowed ONE gallon ziploc bag per child...thats it..we can put in it whatever we want, but it HAS to fit in that bag!!! I am making them t shirts with a pic of my husband and myself on it and Im putting their names and 'WE LOVE YOU' on it...Im going to roll it up SMALL to fit in the ziploc..but what else can I include in this..we will put a few more pictures and a letter, but I want to be creative. These boy's parents ahve passed away, one has been there since September and one since last April ..its very sad..I want this to be very very special!! Thank you so much for any suggestions..Im not real creative and I want to finish this up this week...to get to them SOON!~!!

nov04LIbride Posted: Dec 13, 2004 03:52 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

OMG congratulations! Maybe a US flag or something as well? Or a tshirt with an American flag?

Calla Posted: Dec 13, 2004 03:58 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Send them a stack of photographs of their extended families, new home, their room, school, a local playground, and only other places you plan to take them. For something fun, what about an inflatable toy of some sort? That wouldn't take up too much space.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What happy news!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:00 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

GREAT ideas..thankyou!!! Its hard, because we get one small bag and thats it..we cant giev them any more gifts until I get them and take them out of the orphanage..so this is it...I want to wow them ...it is great news..Ive honestly never ever wanted anything more..Im afriad when I go there..Im going to cry like a psychotic and scare them!

jenny2penny Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:01 PM

.

MrsERod Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:01 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Hi Alicia....many 's to you and Dex...

How about small journals, so they can jot down how they're feeling during those first few moments when they find out about being adopted by wonderful people!

anjerandunder Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:02 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

what wonderful news for you..if you're going to change their last name to yours maybe you could include their new initials in the bag..maybe a baseball cap from your favorite team..or a collage of some of your favorite things you like to do that they will be doing with you..have fun!! how exciting

Janice Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:03 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

how about a six flags brochere? or other 'touristy' things that you know you will do with them. I would send a pic of your home. maybe a bead bracelet with their name on it. I would totally send a disposable camera so they can take pics of their friends and caretakers, or I guess you can do that when you go get them, maybe pick out a special little book for each of them about adoptions

jozieb0925 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:10 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

That is sooo special..Congratulations and wish you the best of luck with everything.

I think the picture idea is great..send them pictures of your family..your dh's family..their new rooms..ect..

I tried to put myself in their shoes and I def. would want to see lots of pics.

Again congrats!!

Sassyz75 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:13 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

I think the pictures would be a GREAT idea- b/c I'm sure they are going to be so curious and excited.

I would also send them some fun postcards of NYC and America.

and of course- a NY Yankees Baseball Hat!!!

Aga Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:14 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

I almost cried when I read your post, I am so happy for you and for these boys who are getting such wonderful parents.... Just wanted to congratulate both of you

bridget&jimmy Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:26 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

you can do those little brag books from shutterfly with pictures of you and your family and I think they have all different sizes. And then you can write around the photos and tell them all about each person, and make almost a story out of it, like a book about there new life.

LFitzy79 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:27 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

I love the idea of sending them a disposable camera so they can take pics of thier friends at the orphanage....
you could also include a letter to each introducing yourself.....
I think the idea of pictures of the house and neighborhood are good ideas too....
congratulations.....

jessnyc711 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:31 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

You should send them one small toy or something that they can play with. They are kids and all kids like toys or a baseball, stuff like that, just send them a few pictures of their new parents, their home, any pets? But something fun that they can play with and show the other children in the orphanage. Crayons, toy cars stuff like that.

swags1016 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 04:41 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Alicia,

First Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second, I think more than anything else pictures of you, DH, where they will be living, their room, pets anything that will make them feel more comfortable is first and foremost before you even get them!! Definitely a letter explaining how excited you and DH are. Then if there is anything else you can fit in there great but the more comfortable and familiar you can make their surroundings the better. They are going to be going through a HUGE transition. I know you want to just spoil them but you will have TONS of time for that when they are here.

These boys are so blessed to have you two!!!

Congratulations on your new family!!!!!

DebMaher Posted: Dec 13, 2004 05:12 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

First of all congratulations to you both -- what a special thing for you both! I hope thisw does not come across as corny but how about a pic of you and Dex each sitting at the dining room table with the two chairs for them. Then you can send it with a label to each -- this is your seat in your new home to each. Sort of letting them know how much fuller your home will be when they arrive.
Alternately, a piece of inexpensive jewelry like that makes two halves of something. Or matching friendship bracelets for you and each of them so that when they see you for the first time they will recognize them.

casey31 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 05:21 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Alicia- congratulations to you and your husband! You are going to have such a wonderful family!

A letter to them. pictures of you and your husband, and I love the idea of a bracelet for each of them- you and your husband can wear a matching one in the picture.....
Pictures of your home, their room-with some toys in it waiting for them- and some books, maybe one about adoption, a toy and some candy!

Congratulations again!:

ambersmom Posted: Dec 13, 2004 05:23 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

That is soo awesome. No suggestions but I just wanted to say how happy I am for you both!!! They are such special little boys!!!

Rainmama Posted: Dec 13, 2004 05:49 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Wow Alicia! This is such a beautiful thing that the two of you are doing. I'm literally holding back tears right now!
Congrats and best of luck!!!!

AndreaLMT Posted: Dec 13, 2004 06:02 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

All the ideas are absolutely perfect, but I really just want to say how truly happy I am for the two of you! You brought tears to my eyes. I wish you all the best with your beautiful boys that are about to change & brighten your lives forever!!!