As many of you know, we are thrilled to be adopting again!
I feel I have been very open about our struggles with infertility and how we ultimately came to be a family through open adoption–which has brought infinite joy to our lives and changed our world for the better. Margot is the greatest gift we ever could have imagined, and I can confidently and wholeheartedly emphasize that neither of us would change our path to parenthood, even if we could. We have certainly learned that the perfect child for us was placed into our lives, and we know that will happen again.
Infertility and adoption come with challenges, though–emotional ones, but financial ones, too. It may surprise you to learn that adoption-related costs can easily total up to $40,000 or more. This is something we haven't shared widely because it is incredibly uncomfortable. About four years ago, we spent tens of thousands of dollars on fertility testing and treatments that never worked. When we eagerly committed to adoption, we had spent everything we had and started all over by borrowing money. Adoption is more expensive than most people realize. We are beyond excited and are doing everything we can to be prepared to welcome a beautiful new life into our home, including continuing to build a savings account for the costs we will incur in this next adoption.
We hope that by inviting you into this process, you will see yourself as part of the community we hope to build around our child as he or she grows up, just as many of you make up the village who helps us to raise Margot each day, both near and far. You are loved and appreciated. And your support means the world to us as we step out into the unknown in order to find and bring home our second child and as we seek to love and support another birth mother who will be a new member of our family, too.
If you or anyone else in your life knows an expectant mother considering making an adoption plan, please share our website where she can learn more about our family: www.jasonashleyadopt.com.
With much love,
Ashley, Jason & Margot
*If you'd like to revisit our experience adopting Margot, you can visit my blog at www.thealligatorpair.blogspot.com. It hasn't been updated in years, but I hope to document a bit of our latest journey there, too.
