Our Adoption Story + A Summer Look Featuring the Hourglass Scattered Light and Caution Extreme Mascara

On July 19th, 2018, we welcomed our adopted baby girl, Johannah Elle into the world. Looking into your baby's eyes for the first time is unlike anything I could ever imagine and I can't believe I'm at the point in my life to detail this experience freely and with much excitement! 

Today's post is dedicated to our adoption process (I will do my best to encapsulate a year and a half into a few highly descriptive paragraphs) with a dash of new beauty thrown in for good measure. 

January 2017: Our adoption story started early last year. We were eager to build a family and felt, after much prayer, like we were being led to adopt. Simply put, my husband and I had so much love to give and wanted to share that with a baby who needed a home. Quite frankly, figuring out where to begin was one of the most daunting aspects of this entire endeavor. After much research, we decided to work with an adoption attorney in our area and had a 2+ hour consultation that allowed us to ask questions about the process and what we could expect to encounter. 

The only thing we knew is that we really knew nothing about how adoption works in California and our attorneys were so patient and attentive in explaining everything. Since our relationship is so close, I had my parents attend the meeting as well; I knew they'd be walking side-by-side with us in all the steps along the way and loved that they could start that journey with us from the very beginning. 

February 2017-December 2017: Shortly after our initial meeting, my husband and I created a profile that included a letter to prospective a birth mother, detailing our lives and why we wanted to adopt. This profile could be used by our attorney to give a birth mother a better sense of who we were. Because we were trusting God to lead us to the baby that was meant for us, our preferences for who that baby was (e.g, ethnic background, gender etc.) were completely open. 

We then embarked on the home study journey. Every prospective adoptive parent needs to work with a social worker to complete an extensive home study which is like a very comprehensive background check. It's the precursor to adoption and must be completed before a child can be placed in one's home. Everything from finger prints and medical physicals to family and relational history are addressed, along with a need to have letters of reference, complete CPR training and baby proof one's home. This entire process, which resulted in a 100+ paper packet, took us 8+ months to complete and when we finished, we felt a major sense of relief, satisfaction and accomplishment...it meant we were one step closer to the baby that was meant to be ours! 

January 2018-February 2018: Once our home study was complete, we went on a blissful trip to London and Paris while staying in constant contact with our attorneys regarding potential situations. In all honesty, sometimes the waiting became really tough but we were resolute that God already had the baby for us picked out and we needed to trust His timing (which is nearly always different than our timing) above all things. It was that trust and the encouragement of my family that got us through those moments of questioning and uncertainty. Upon our return from Europe, we unexpectedly found out that we had to move (a family member of our landlord needed to move into the house) and we found a larger house...little did we know at that time that it would be the ideal dwelling for the baby that would shortly come into our lives. It was a whirlwind of a time but, looking back, God was preparing us even then for her arrival. 

March 2018: After returning home from a trip to London and Paris with my family, we found out that we were official matched with a birth mother, who picked our profile through our attorney! So many feelings converge in a moment like that...excitement, hopefulness, anticipation and, to be fair, nervousness regarding how the process will proceed. We had two dinners with our attorneys and the birth parents (rare!) which enabled us to get to know each other better in good faith for the adoption to come. Out of respect for the birth parents, I will leave the details of their lives and situations out of this post...just know that the brave and selfless decision they made to place their child into adoption was motivated by pure love and care for their baby...and we're forever grateful to be the recipients of that choice. 

April 2018-July 2018: This time period was marked by more preparation; we were linked with another social worker who would act as a liaison between the birth parents and my husband and I, clearly detailing everyone's rights during the adoption process and making sure everything was being done to the letter of the law. We also had the opportunity to attend the birth mother's ultrasounds...it was incredible to be able to see our baby in that way but the connection with her, even at that point was undeniable and the birth mother did everything she could to support that, encouraging us to name her early on and even introducing us as "mommy and daddy" to the medical personnel on duty for the appointments. What amazing and unprecedented moments those were. 

We continued to gather the things we would need for Johannah and family and friends were so sweet and generous in helping us to prepare for her homecoming. She was originally due on August 9th, so we knew that the month of July would be our time to get everything ready and we did little projects around the house each day in anticipation for the due date. On 7/18, my mom offered to come over to help me set up the last of the nursery. Feeling very ahead of the game, we cheerfully put clothes away and nestled the toys on the crib. Little did we know...

July 19th, 2018: We got a call from our attorney at 3AM, letting us know that the birth mother's water broke and she was going to the hospital (she had told us she wanted us at the birth). Half asleep and entirely caught off guard, we hurriedly packed a bag and rushed to the hospital, slowly as the sun rose realizing that it could be the day that we meet our daughter. Dialating to 10cm took much of the day and, after some visiting time with the birth mother and her family, my husband and I proceeded to catch up on work in the waiting room and try to keep nerves at bay! 

At around 5PM, the birth mother went into labor and I, along with her sister-in-law helped her to count her way through contractions and pushing...I remember my heart skipping a beat, saying a quick prayer and realizing that our lives would change forever as Johannah entered into the world through natural child birth. It was breathtaking. She was instantly taken to a warming table at the back of the delivery room where she was cleaned and than immediately handed to us. There we stood, holding our baby girl for the first time...I get tears typing the sentence. My family was able to join us and ultimately, we went to the nursery where Johannah was given her first bath and we spent the rest of the time holding her, feeding her and marveling at her existence. Around midnight, we grabbed some In & Out and stayed at a nearby hotel so we could get right back to her the next morning. That night of sleep was particularly deep.

On Friday, we found out that the birth mother and Johannah wouldn't be discharged until Saturday per hospital policy so we spent the day in the nursery, bonding as much as humanly possible...it was a beautiful day with our new little girl. We slept at our home that night, knowing that the next time we'd be there, she'd be with us...what a feeling. 

That Saturday, we returned to the hospital to wait for Johannah's discharge. We also met with the social worker and birth mother and birth father and all said our goodbyes in one of the most poignant life moments I will probably ever experience. 

We returned to the nursery and when the doctor discharged Johannah we, once again, cried tears of joy...we put her in her stroller (full disclosure: there is definitely a learning curve with that process!) and drove home...very slowly. I sat in the back with her as I just didn't want her out of my sight, even during a half hour trip down the freeway. My parents and brother were waiting for us at our house with dinner and happy hearts and I will never forget that sweet, sweet evening together. It's imprinted on my heart. 

As we reflect on those precious, complicated and important days following Johannah's birth, we see so many manifestations of God's precise timing. He coordinated complex dynamics in ways that benefited everyone involved, further affirming our faith in His perfect plan. 

The Present: Due to the waiver signed, the adoption became irrevocable at the start of the week and the amount of sheer emotion--namely a melange of intense happiness and relief--that she was officially and unequivocally ours couldn't be contained. Let's just say that there were a lot of happy tears at the house that afternoon.  

Abundantly loved, Johannah Elle is now 8 days old and growing leaps and bounds. Her appetite is steady and were getting used to the way in which she communicates her needs. The baby routine (which, of course, stands the test of time) involves feeding, burping, changing, cuddling, comforting and sleeping and, though cracking the code about which one she needs in a particular moment is challenging, we are learning to read the signs and use our intuition. During her first check-up earlier this week, her pediatrician noted how wide-eyed and thriving she is and we are so grateful that she is healthy and happy. 

Most adoptions are finalized in the court system between 8-12 months of placements and our attorneys are filing all necessary paperwork to complete that process within the timeline. At the point, of finalization, Johannah will get a new birth certificate that names us as her legal parents...what a preciosu day that will be! 

To close: My husband and I are learning how to best take care of Johannah day-by-day, moment-by-moment and relish the opportunity to provide her with the most optimal, love-rich life that we possibly can.  She is such a sweet and mellow baby and we are ever thankful to God for blessing us with this tiny wonder. The pure and selfless love of all parties involved in this adoption allowed us to become a family and we will be forever grateful for this process. 

I hope our story has raised awareness, intrinsically answered some questions and and maybe even inspired some of you to consider how adoption may be right for you as it was for us. 

Stronger, even closer, filled with gratitude and definitely more resilient, we are forever changed for the better because of adoption and loving Johannah Elle is a gift beyond measure. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out via email (beautyprofessor@gmail.com) should you have any specific questions that I can answer! 

At the center of my look is the new Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow (also available at Beautylish, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Hourglass). Ever since catching glimpses of this new release on social media, I knew the glimmering formula was destined for my eyes. 

Weightless and exceptionally luminous, this eyeshadow packs serious color payoff without settling into fine lines and creases. The shades can be layered and blended to create a custom hue and the nearly liquid-looking shine is more incandescent than anything in this category that I have tried to date. I am so impressed with the texture (smooth as silk), wear time (10-12 hours, no fall out, no touch ups) and optical effect (pure lustrous illumination) and am beyond glad that I ordered these sight unseen. Keep reading to see swatches of the the shades I selected! 

To complete my eye look, I applied a couple of coats of the freshly launched *Hourglass Caution Extreme Mascara. This voluming and lengthening formula boasts lash-transforming powers and I am happy to corroborate this claim. The brush's bristles are designed to dispense the jet-black, fiber-free formula over each lash, creating dense volume and intense length with minimal effort. The mascara is fragrance-free and smudge resistant...I've been testing it in some of the hottest, most humid weather we've had in months and cannot believe how stalwart it is while still being friendly to sensitive, allergy-ridden eyes and easily removed with soap and water. The *Caution Extreme Mascara is indubitably my favorite mascara offering from Hourglass and I implore you to consider giving it a try...curious to hear your thoughts when you do! 

When ordering, I chose four of the five shades of the Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow: 

Bottom Line: I truly hope you enjoyed this very special BP post...it was my sincere joy to share elements of our journey with you (I know that it is only the preface to a long and beautiful story yet to unfold) and I welcome you to extend your questions about and experiences with adoption in the comments section. So looking forward to reading! 

Additionally, the Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow (also available at Beautylish, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Hourglass) and *Caution Extreme Mascara have become incredible parts of my eye routine and, if you are even the slightest bit interested, I highly recommend giving them a try as they do not disappoint. 

Also, there are less than 10 days left for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (ends August 5th)...I've been wearing/using my purchases nonstop since the middle of the month and if you are looking for some specific inspiration, swing by my shopping guides HERE and HERE. 

Good things ahead, including a host of new product procurements, the BY TERRY Nude Expert Duo Stick Foundation and my picks from the new Westman Atelier Collection. 

More than ever, thank you for your loyal readership and support of Beauty Professor...xx and more soon,

--The Beauty Professor