Happy Thanksgiving !

We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and invite you to share with us what you are thankful for today.  We are thankful to have spent the last 10 years with our forever families, and look forward to all of the families to come.  Helping families to adopt is a gift for all of us at A Baby Step, and we are truly thankful each and every time we are invited into your lives.  We hope you enjoy this special day of family and thanksgiving! 

National Adoption Day

Today marks National Adoption Day!! We continue to celebrate all of our forever families.  It has been our joy and honor to work with each and every one of you.  We hope you will share your family photos with us today!! #NationalAdoptionMonth #Iloveadoption #ABSA

Happy Universal Children’s Day!

Happy Universal Children’s Day - November 20th! This week we celebrate children for who they are, including all of the special traitsand quirks that make them uniquely OURS, and strive to ensure that all children around the globe live a safe, happy and healthy life. 

10 years!

Enjoy our latest blog post about how adoption has evolved since we began this journey a decade ago! The industry has reflected the times and has become much more open than ever before. We can’t wait to see what the next ten years brings! Link to blog post here:

http://adoptionstep.com/national-adoption-month-2014/

Information Session

Curious about adoption but not sure where to start? Join us at our free information session on Thursday, November 20th at 7:00 PMin Bryn Mawr, PA. Come out to learn about your adoption options while meeting some of our wonderful staff! For address details and to rsvp: e-mail annie@ababystepadoption.com.Hope to see you there!

National Adoption Month

ADOPTION is…Forever Families, Hope, Miracles, Beautiful, Promises, a Gift, Blessings, Dreams Come True, and Happiness.  Adoption is…LOVE!  What does adoption mean to you? #NationalAdoptionMonth #Iloveadoption

Newest ABSA forever family!

Engagement!

Past and current A Baby Step Adoption team members had a great time celebrating Liz Stock's engagement! We will miss you Liz when you relocate to Kansas, but we wish you the very best of luck and appreciate all you have done for our agency! Cheers to new beginnings!i

Philadelphia Family Magazine

 Kudos to our esteemed director, Barbara Casey, who is featured in the fall issue of Philadelphia Family Magazine providing insight into what you can expect from the adoption process. With over thirty years of experience, Barbara knows the ins and outs of adoption and enjoyed sharing them with the publication.

 http://philafamilymag.com/adoption/

Birthmothers

 As we kick off National Adoption Month, we can't forget the birthmothers, special women who are the unsung heroes of the adoption process. Without their love, adoption wouldn't be possible. Our caseworkers at A Baby Step Adoption offer lifetime support for our birthmothers because adoption is a lifelong decision. If you or someone you know is unexpectedly pregnant and needs support, please call us or text us at 610-613-1911

#NationalAdoptionAwarenessMonth

Today kicks off our very favorite time of the year – National Adoption Month!  This month we celebrate all of our forever families.  It has been our joy and honor to work with each and every one of you.  We hope you will share your family photos with us this month!  #NationalAdoptionMonth #Iloveadoption #NationalAdoptionAwarenessMonth 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

It is starting to look very spooky outside! The staff at A Baby Step Adoption Agency wishes you and your little ghosts and goblins a very Happy Halloween!  Check out these helpful tips from safekids.org to ensure that everyone enjoys a safe and spooktakular night - www.safekids.org/halloween.  There are some that might surprise you! 

Regram love!

Come see us this Saturday!

Visit us this Saturday, November 1, at the 5th Annual Family Matters Conference sponsored by Philadelphia Family Pride. The community event is for LGBTQ parents and prospective parents to network, share information and get their questions answered by professionals. We will be there to answer any questions you may have on LGBTQ adoptions and how we can help you create your forever family! The event runs from 9AM-2PM at the Philadelphia School in Center City. For more information, check out: http://philadelphiafamilypride.org/family-matters-conference/

Happy birthday !

Happy birthday to Hillary Rodham Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, First Lady of the United States and recognized adoption advocate.  Hillary played a leading role in advocating the creation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), and the Foster Care Independence Act.  Her role in campaigning for the ASFA was particularly influential and is considered the most sweeping change to the U.S. adoption and foster care system in some two decades. 

Maternity Clothing

If you have an excess of maternity clothes taking up space in your closet, we would love to take them off your hands!  A Baby Step Adoption is accepting donations for gently used maternity clothes for our birth mothers in need. Thanks to our friends at the Play Cafe, you can drop off your donations to the Bryn Mawr kid play center anytime before December 1, 2014 and label them: Taryn Ferst, A Baby Step Adoption. Your kids will love it if you stay and play too! It's a win win! 

Tuesday Tip!

Single parent adoption is on the rise. In the 1970’s, a mere .5% to 4% of people adopting were single, whereas today, the number is more like 33% and is steadily rising. Some research shows that these parents have a harder time adoptiong a child, but in the case of A Baby Step Adoption, that is simply not true. We can help prospective adoptive parents from any situation and can match a single parent with a baby in under a year, often even faster. 

ABSA Family Update

Beautiful update from one of our forever families! Could Matteo be any cuter!? Love this smile! 

Curious about adoption but not sure where to start?

Thank you to those who joined us at our free information session on October 16th in Rosemont, PA. Curious about adoption but not sure where to start? If you missed the session you can still learn about your adoption options by emailing annie@ababystepadoption.com. We look forward to talking with you! Photo credit: Pinterest. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Buy this cute little guy for your little one! Raise funds for breast cancer: 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/36386460/sock-monkey-pink-ribbon-for-breast

Grants

The cost of adoption can be daunting on families, but there are so many more funding options out there today than ever before. Social media has helped the cause with sites like Gofundme.com, which allows people to donate to your fundraising goals. If you are considering adoption but concerned about the cost, please contact us to help you find the resources that will work best for you. Our agency has taken the lead and partnered with the nationally recognized program - Your Adoption  Finance Coach.  This program helps, with grants loans, creative fundraising and activities including a gift registry.  This program is free to all ABSA families. Ask your ABSA caseworker about out in house grant spreadsheet for requirements - we are ready to get started today! 

Happy Columbus Day!

Happy Columbus Day!  If you have school-aged children who are home today in recognition of this national holiday, there are many fun and educational activities to keep little – and big –minds busy!  We like Scholastic.com’s selection of Columbus-themed games and activities.  Enchantedlearning.com also has a number of fun printable coloring pages and crafts.  Whatever you do, we hope you get to make lasting memories and enjoy some special family time today!

John Lennon

Today we recognize the life and accomplishments of musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, artist and adoptee, John Lennon.  His maternal aunt, Mimi, and her husband,George, raised the Beatles superstar, who would have celebrated his 74th birthday today.  Mimi and Georgewere named John’s official guardians when he turned five, and reportedly enjoyed a loving and close relationship with the future Beatle.

Come support - HelpUsAdopt.org

Health!

Did you know that today is Child Health Day? As part of the annual presidential proclamation for the day, all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare, including A Baby Step Adoption Agency, unite today to increase people’s awareness of the need for a year-round program to protect and develop children’s health in the United States.    

Teachers

Today marks the 20thannual celebration of World Teachers' Day!  This special day commemorates teachers’ organizations worldwide and represents the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.  We at A Baby Step Adoption salute teachers worldwide today, and particularly our special adoptive parents who are teachers (we have a number of them!)

Love.

ABSA Family Profile – Cole and Heather

As part of our ongoing series, ‘Miracles in Adoption,’ in which we introduce you to some of our incredible families who have adopted with us in the past, we are excited to share the amazing story of Cole and Heather.

 

Meet Cole and Heather from Pittsburgh, PA

 

Cole and Heather knew they wanted to start a family, and the couple was ecstatic when Heather became pregnant in 2012.  With no previous health issues, the couple was blindsided when Heather suffered heart failure during her pregnancy and was forced to undergo life-saving treatment. The treatment saved her life, but tragically, they lost their baby.  Since her condition may have prevented her from safely becoming pregnant again, she and her husband, Cole, decided to turn to adoption and began exploring their adoption options.

 

As Heather recovered, they began talking to family about their plans to adopt. Cole’s mother mentioned she knew Barbara Casey, an American Academy Attorney who specializes in adoption and runs a successful agency with an office in Reading, not far from their hometown of Pittsburgh. She suggested contacting A Baby Step Adoption Agency to learn more about her adoption options. The couple was intrigued and contacted the agency to learn about what available adoption situations could work best for them.  The couple signed on with A Baby Step Adoption Agency officially in February 2013, expecting the process of being matched with a birth mother to take about a year, which is the norm among most adoption agencies. Heather and Cole couldn’t have been more wrong. Within a month, the couple was matched with a birth mother who was almost four months pregnant and due in August, 2013. Their dreams for a baby of their own were coming to fruition faster than they could have ever hoped.

 

One of the adoption options offered to them was to have an open adoption where the birth mother and adoptive family maintain contact throughout the pregnancy. Heather and Cole had the opportunity to experience the special moments of the pregnancy, receiving sonogram photos and getting regular updates on prenatal appointments from the birth mother. They got the call she was in labor in August 2013 and rushed to the hospital where their beautiful daughter was born.

Named Maida for Heather’s grandmother, they chose the birth mother’s last name to use as her middle name to make sure she always has a connection to the woman who birthed her. Heather and Cole were so impressed with how streamlined and seamless their experience of adoption was with A Baby Step Adoption. Out of all of the available adoption situations out there, their adoption of their daughter couldn’t have gone more smoothly.

 

The couple, who co-own a natural pet supply store called Petagogy, live in Pittsburgh, PA with little Maida who turned one this past August and their two dogs.

ABSA Blog

Enjoy our latest blog post about the Miracle of Adoption on our website.  In this post we feature Heather and Cole from Pittsburgh, PA, who overcame tragic circumstances and went on to adopt a little girl, Maida who recently celebrated her first birthday. A Baby Step Adoption is so grateful to be a part of so many small miracles through adoption.

Nicole Richie

Happy belated Birthday to famous adoptee, actress and fashion designer, Nicole Richie! Richie’s biological father is a musician who briefly played with her famous father, Lionel, while her mother was the executive assistant to Nicole’s aunt. When Nicole was three, her parents agreed to let her move in with Brenda Harvey and Lionel Richie because they could not afford to provide for her financially. When she was 9, they legally adopted her. 

Saturday Snuggles

Saturday morning snuggles with this ABSA bundle of love! We cannot get enough!! So much love. 

Happy Birthday!

Today marks the 84th birthday of one of America’s greatest female journalists and adoptive mother, Barbara Walters. Barbara adopted her daughter, Jacqueline, with her then husband, Lee Guber, a theatrical producer and theater owner in 1968. Barbara finds herself in good company with other fellow adoptive parents in the broadcast industry including Rosie O’Donnell, Connie Chung and Maury Povich. 

ABSA family!

Our newest member of the A Baby Step family - Kieran! We adore you to the moon and back!!

New ABSA forever family!

Congratulations to our newest #ABSA #foreverfamily. Beautiful twins! #adoption #babylove #love

More pictures from today - ABSA!

ABSA expo booth!

A very special year !

Check out our FB page for a very special year in pictures of one beautiful baby girl. We just love ABSA family updates! 

Expo Reminder!

Come visit A Baby Step Adoption Agency this Saturday, September 20th between 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at our booth at the Family Building Expo, a free event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia. Stop by to learn more about adoption and assisted reproductive technology resources and enter to win a free education meeting, your first step in the adoption process.  Hope to see you there!

TUESDAY TIP: Congratulations!!

 A belated congratulations to local ABC weatherman, Adam Joseph, and his partner, Karl on the birth of their adopted baby boy, Jacob, who was born on August 6! The local meteorologist announced the birth of his child and came out as gay in his Facebook baby announcement the day the baby was born! Way to go, Adam!

Legends of the Bar: Women at the Bar in 1979—A Retrospective

Legends of the Bar: Women at the Bar in 1979—A Retrospective. Sharing stories will be Pat Frankel, Sharon Scullin, Lynn Erickson and our very own agency leader Barbara Binder Casey. Congratulations to ABSA and Barbara on such an honor!

4 finalizations this week with ABSA!

We had an exciting week at ABSA - four finalizations! Three of these clients had disrupted adoptions with other agencies. Our new forever families - in one case 3 siblings, a set of twins, and the third family is bringing a baby boy back from Ohio. We turned tragedy into truimph for these deserving families. What a wonderful week! Lots of love!! 

Never forget.

It’s hard to believe that it has been 13 years since the September 11 tragedy that took the lives of almost 3,000 Americans. Former President George W. Bush named today “Patriot Day” to honor the victims of the attacks. Hug your family extra tight today, and don’t forget to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM, the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. #neverforget #ABSA

Post Love!

Tara wrote: "Today my bright, beautiful, and energetic daughter turns 5. Five years ago today was the longest best day of my life. Thank you ABSA ( A Baby Step Adoption Barbara Binder Casey)"

TUESDAY TIP: Reading

Reading to your child is fundamental. Even an infant can benefit from looking at a picture book with Mommy or Daddy. Did you know nearly 3 out of every 4 adopted children ages 0-5 are read to or sang to every day? Only half of non-adopted children receive this same attention from their parents. Just goes to show the appreciation adoptive families have for the gift of parenthood.

FREE FAMILY BUILDING EXPO OPEN TO PUBLIC

FREE FAMILY BUILDING EXPO OPEN TO PUBLIC

HOPING TO BECOME A PARENT THROUGH ADOPTION

OR ASSISTED REPRODUCTION?

adoptionattorneys.org/aaaa/expo

Attend the Free Family Building Expo hosted by the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Attorneys:

“Creating Your Child’s Story”

Saturday, September 20, 2014, 9:30 to 2:30 

Four Seasons Hotel, One Logan Square, Philadelphia

Workshops by the leading national legal experts about adoption, foster care, ivf, egg donation, and surrogacy. Exhibitors and speakers offering placement counseling and legal services.

 For more information, please contact Jennie Sullivan at admin@adoptionattorneys.org

Labor Day was LABOR DAY!

ABSA had 5 births over Labor Day weekend. What a record! Welcome Iris, Miles, Carrie, Karyn, and Elias to the ABSA family. Building forever families!

Back to school!

For many of you, it’s your child’s first day of school this week, and we all know how stressful and nervous we can be for this momentous occasion, but imagine how the little ones feel. Here are some helpful tips from Parents Magazine to help prepare your child for this exciting time in their lives! http://www.parents.com/kids/education/kindergarten/prepare-your-child-for-school/ 

Happy Birthday from ABSA!!

Happy 2nd birthday Ben! ABSA family! 

TUESDAY TIP: Bonding

Often times, the question adoptive parents most want to know the answer to but are afraid to ask is if they will bond with their child the same way biological parents would. The answer is a resounding YES! Bonding with your child is not a biological phenomenon. It just happens as you spend time and have experiences with your new baby whether you birthed them or not. It’s also not always immediate but rather happens over a period of time. Read more about this interesting topic in this article from adoptionhelp.org -www.adoptionhelp.org/articles/loving-bonding-adopted-baby.

TUESDAY TIP

As a woman decides whether adoption is the right choice for her and her unborn baby, one of her primary concerns may be financial. How will she pay for the cost of pregnancy? How will she pay for the cost of delivering the baby? The answer is you will not pay for pregnancy related costs When a pregnant woman is matched with an adoptive family, all of her expenses are totally paid for throughout her pregnancy and delivery. Rest assured that A Baby Step can help you every step of the way, both emotionally and financially, as you decide what is right for you and your child. #adoption #ABSA #love #pregnancy

ORANGE ... Is the New Black

 If you love the Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black, you probably adore the spiky haired Russian woman, Red. What you probably didn’t know is Kate Mulgrew, the actress who plays Red, is a birth mother, herself. While acting in the 1970’s soap opera, Ryan’s Hope, Kate became pregnant and chose adoption for her infant daughter. "That may be the one completely unselfish thing I've done in my life,” says Mulgrew. “It was God at work, with a little help from me.”

TUESDAY TIP: Hot thermostats

Hot thermostats mean plenty of water play to help keep babies cool. Children love to play in water, whether its in a pool, by the ocean, or even in a bathtub, but make sure to always stay within arm’s reach and never take your eyes off your little one. A child can drown in less than an inch of water so it is crucial to always be vigilant and keep your baby safe this summer!

Two and a Half Men

Spoiler Alert! If you watch the hit TV show, Two and a Half Men, don’t read ahead! The final season of Two and A Half Men, premiering October 30, 2014, will see Walden and Alan, played by Ashton Kutcher and John Cryer, get married and adopt a baby. Once considered taboo and unconventional, same sex couples adopting children has become more and more commonplace, and we applaud Hollywood for featuring storylines of this nature!

TUESDAY TIP: Photography

Check out the remarkable photos from photographer Kate Parker as she documented the journey of her nephew, Sam, from his birth to his adoption five months later by her sister and brother in law. This is truly a picture perfect portrait of the power of love through adoption.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/touching-photos-of-a-baby-boys-adoption