| Introducing Andrew Blake Overman |
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| Born on: |
July 25, 2002
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| Born in: |
Almaty, Kazakhstan
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| Weight: |
Around 5.5 pounds (at birth)
My Parents are Here!
We met Andrew on March 4, 2003 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
It was one of many great days we have had since then. We only hope the
same is true for Drew!!
We met Andrew on March 4, 2003 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
It was one of many great days we have had since then. We only hope the
same is true for Drew!!
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| Andrew on the day we got to hold him for the first time. |
For those curious people like me - who would really like to know why we decided to adopt .... (hopefully this is not too much
information) ...
In early 2000 we decided to get pregnant, and assumed we would have our first child before the year was done. We liked the idea of
our child being born in the year 2000 - birthdays would always be easy to remember. We never thought we would have any problems
getting pregnant, and assumed it would take no more than 3 months. Well 3 years later we had our first child - Andrew.
After about 2 years of all possible treatments, we took a class on adoption - just to see what our options were. The most
reassuring words from all the adoptive parents that came to speak were about their love for their child was no less than their love
for a biological child. All the unknowns that go along with adoption ... what will the child look like, what will we feel for the child,
what will the child's personality be like ... became irrelevant when we realized that through adoption we could have what we wanted -
a child to love.
We never learned why we could not stay pregnant, and we no longer cared - this is a wonderful feeling after spending several years
wanting nothing other than to get (and stay) pregnant. It no longer mattered where the child came from. We realized we wanted a
child so much more than we cared about being pregnant.
By the end of the class (March 2002), we had sent in an application to adopt. From March until August things moved pretty slowly as
we dragged our feet. It took a little more research, and talking to other adoptive parents before we decided on our agency and the
country. In the end, we could not have been happier with the agency, and with the care that was provided by the people of
Kazakhstan. When we settled on the agency things started to go much more quickly.
In January we saw the first picture of Andrew, and a few weeks later we were told we would meet him on March 4th. This was a big
surprise because we did not expect to travel until April. We quickly bought the essentials and got ready for 3 weeks in Kazakhstan.
Before we knew it we were on the plane, and then holding him in arms. After 2 weeks of visiting him, we were his parents. It is
funny that after so many years of waiting, it all seemed to happen so quickly, and we were in shock that we were parents.
And now, 3 months after we met him ... we feel like parents. It feels strange to go to the store without him, it feels strange to
walk out of the house without 10 things we have to take along, it feels strange when we don't hear any noises from down the hall at
night, and it feels strange to have ever wondered about our love for him. Everything adoptive parents say about loving their children
is true -- we could not love him more. On top of that love, we feel amazingly blessed and fortunate to have him in our life. We have
been given the gift of his life, and it does not get any better than that. It is by far the greatest thing that has happened to us.
information) ...
In early 2000 we decided to get pregnant, and assumed we would have our first child before the year was done. We liked the idea of
our child being born in the year 2000 - birthdays would always be easy to remember. We never thought we would have any problems
getting pregnant, and assumed it would take no more than 3 months. Well 3 years later we had our first child - Andrew.
After about 2 years of all possible treatments, we took a class on adoption - just to see what our options were. The most
reassuring words from all the adoptive parents that came to speak were about their love for their child was no less than their love
for a biological child. All the unknowns that go along with adoption ... what will the child look like, what will we feel for the child,
what will the child's personality be like ... became irrelevant when we realized that through adoption we could have what we wanted -
a child to love.
We never learned why we could not stay pregnant, and we no longer cared - this is a wonderful feeling after spending several years
wanting nothing other than to get (and stay) pregnant. It no longer mattered where the child came from. We realized we wanted a
child so much more than we cared about being pregnant.
By the end of the class (March 2002), we had sent in an application to adopt. From March until August things moved pretty slowly as
we dragged our feet. It took a little more research, and talking to other adoptive parents before we decided on our agency and the
country. In the end, we could not have been happier with the agency, and with the care that was provided by the people of
Kazakhstan. When we settled on the agency things started to go much more quickly.
In January we saw the first picture of Andrew, and a few weeks later we were told we would meet him on March 4th. This was a big
surprise because we did not expect to travel until April. We quickly bought the essentials and got ready for 3 weeks in Kazakhstan.
Before we knew it we were on the plane, and then holding him in arms. After 2 weeks of visiting him, we were his parents. It is
funny that after so many years of waiting, it all seemed to happen so quickly, and we were in shock that we were parents.
And now, 3 months after we met him ... we feel like parents. It feels strange to go to the store without him, it feels strange to
walk out of the house without 10 things we have to take along, it feels strange when we don't hear any noises from down the hall at
night, and it feels strange to have ever wondered about our love for him. Everything adoptive parents say about loving their children
is true -- we could not love him more. On top of that love, we feel amazingly blessed and fortunate to have him in our life. We have
been given the gift of his life, and it does not get any better than that. It is by far the greatest thing that has happened to us.
| Go to ... |
We are Going to be Parents!
After we saw this picture, we waited just under 2 months
to meet him and hold him in our arms. Fortunately, we
were expecting to wait much longer so the time went by
quickly as we hurriedly got ourselves ready to be parents.
It was not until we brought Andrew home that we
realized that having a crib really did not make us 'ready'
to be parents - like all parents we are figuring it out day
by day.
After we saw this picture, we waited just under 2 months
to meet him and hold him in our arms. Fortunately, we
were expecting to wait much longer so the time went by
quickly as we hurriedly got ourselves ready to be parents.
It was not until we brought Andrew home that we
realized that having a crib really did not make us 'ready'
to be parents - like all parents we are figuring it out day
by day.
| The first picture we saw of Andrew on January 7th 2003. |