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Virtual Baby Shower Guest of Honor's Page


Congratulations to Dawn V. for being the guest of honor at Little Ladybug Designs Virtual Baby Shower! Dawn is being showered with many gifts from our generous sponsors. Click here to check out the sponsors and visit the virtual baby shower page.

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We asked Dawn to share her adoption story with us. We also asked her what it meant to win our virtual baby shower. We hope she enjoys all her gifts and that her son is home in her arms forever soon.



Dawn's Adoption Story

Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to have children. I always pictured myself with a boy and a girl. My mom used to babysit children in our home for working mom’s and I started helping her take care of the children at an early age. My mother was shuffled from foster home to foster home but was never adopted so I always had a sore spot in my heart for children without parents and always felt that when I got older I wanted to do something to help but I wasn’t sure what.

As I got older I had a few serious relationships that didn’t result in marriage or children. For the past 5 years I have been deciding whether I should find a sperm donor and get pregnant or adopt but I was still holding out to find that right person to start a family with.

In January 2007 I found out I had breast cancer and would need to have a mastectomy. My 40th birthday was approaching in November 2007 and I asked myself what am I waiting for? My mom passed away a few years before and I knew the most important thing that I wanted in my life was to be a mother. Soon after coming to the realization that I didn’t want to wait any longer, I came across an article in the NY Times about an organization called Single Mothers By Choice and that article propelled me into action after thinking about doing something for the past 5 years. It gave me the courage to believe that I could do this by myself.

I started researching my options as a single woman and I have always had an interest in Latin culture. I have listened to Spanish music for at least 10 years even though I don’t understand the words the music just makes me feel so good. When I found out that Guatemala allowed single women to adopt I was thrilled!! I started researching different agencies and I received some negative feedback on one that I was interested in from this woman named Chrissy. She mentioned that she just signed with a great agency. After researching and discussing all of the positive qualities that this agency had to offer I decided to sign with them at the end of May 2007.



I was a little slow in completing my paperwork for my dossier because I had reconstructive surgery coming up at the beginning of July 2007 and my mind was focused on getting this surgery over with. Once that was behind me I worked like crazy getting all of the documents in perfect order and sent to the agency so that I could be put on the waiting list for my baby. I decided to be open and leave the gender of the baby up to fate. I knew I wanted one of each so it didn’t really matter whether I got a boy or a girl first.

On November 7, 2007 right before my 40th birthday I got the call that there was a little boy available and photos and documents were sent for my review. Even though the adoption climate in Guatemala was very uncertain at the time I was willing to take the risk and it took me less than an hour to call my case manager back and say YES!!! 5 days later I was on a plane down to Guatemala to sign a power of attorney and meet my son for the first time who I named Steven after his great-great grandfather who was also an orphan. It was such an emotional experience. Even though we only had a few days together the whole time all I did was hold him and we stared into each others eyes as I fed him his bottles. I fell in love with him instantly!!!!!!!!! Leaving him was so difficult!! The minute I got home from that first trip I was on the phone booking my next trip!! I went to see Steven again in January 2008 and I have another trip scheduled the beginning of April 2008. I am currently waiting for Steven to get out of PGN so I can take him home and we can have a lifetime of love and happiness together.



When I found out that I had won the Virtual Baby Shower contest I felt like I had won the lottery!! I was ecstatic!! Winning this contest organized by Little Ladybug Designs has made me feel so special and is adding to the excitement and anticipation of bringing Steven home. The generosity of receiving these wonderful gifts from people that don’t even know me makes it even more special. I feel like there are people out there supporting me in my decision to adopt as a single woman and showering me with gifts is like a sign that I will succeed.



Dawn's Gift List



One Pound Bag of Gourmet Coffee and one Gourmet Muffin Mix
from A Love of Coffee

Personalized Name board from
Bitsy Bows & Tinsy Ties

Personalized Backpack and Binky Holder from Burp Itty Burp

Cry Babyz Paci Pocket & Baby Jewelry Pocket from Chic Pockets

$25 worth of merchandise of her choice from Cute Creations Design


One month kit subscription. This will include all the paper, cardstock, embellishments and instructions to complete the first 3 pages of Steven's lifebook from Custom Lifebooks

Handmade coming home outfit from Dot Tot Boutique

$25 gift certificate redeemable at the Essential Family Living Baby eStore from Essential Family Living

Beautiful handmade baby blanket from Foxglove Cottage


Radiant C® Daily Facial Scrub Cleanser and a Herbal Aloe Everyday Body Wash  from Kess Informant

Seat Belt Buddies & a Diaper Stacker from Memaw's Sweet Babies

Personalized Hooded Bath Towel & Wash Cloth Set from Merritt’s Momentos

Four Piece Hat Box Bath Time Gift Set- Tillie the Turtle of Finley the Frog  from Micah & Co.

Rosita Rose Quartz Gemstone earrings from My Colorful Treasures

Diaper Bag from My Little Monkey Boutique

Personalized Baby Fleece Blanket from Oh My Baby

NooNoo Blanket from
Papoose

$25 gift certificate to Quote the Walls

Tee-Shirt of her choice featuring any
design, character, & size from Regionz Kidz

Custom Onesie or tee and One Pre-Designed onesie or tee from Sassy Tees

Luxurious Satin Pillow Case from Sharmooz

It's a Boy! gift can stuffed with 4 Johnson baby care products, brush and comb, pacifier and teether, hooded towel and small box of chocolate kisses for mom from Stuff a Can

It's a Boy Diaper Cake filled with receiving blankets, bibs, teething rings, wash cloths and aJohnson and Johnson travel set from Sweet Pea Diaper Cakes, Etc.

Pair of Baby Legs & an Expression Pacifier from
The Emilee Grace Company


A Cats Eye and Sterling Silver Mommy Bracelet personalized with colors of the Guatemalan Flag from The Fairy Princess Garden

Puppy Dog Personalized Bib and Burp Cloth Set from The PolkaDot Frog Boutique

Cloisonne Bangle and Jewlery Box from The Wish Place

25 4x6 Photo Adoption Announcements from Little Ladybug Designs




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