Knowing within our family and circle of friends that we're adopting does not cause nervousness or anxiety.

Telling strangers or people unconnected to us does not cause nervousness or anxiety.

Telling the staff I work with that we're adopting, however, caused much nervousness and anxiety!

As is typical of our first staff meeting of the year, we go table by table and tell any "interesting news" that occurred over the summer. We're a pretty supportive staff and aid and cheer on everyone. Well, I decided I better tell my coworkers what's going on so things aren't weird later on in the year. So I announced that Doug and I were adopting from Russia and hoped to travel in February or March.

They were great - applauded me and I received lots of congratulations - but my hands were actually shaking when the spotlight moved on! I don't know why. As Doug says, it gets "realer and realer" as we move closer. A baby!

Best part was, a good friend/coworker talked to me apart from the crowd later on, as I hadn't had a chance to tell him officially before school got out. As we talked, he was very pleased for us and actually got teary with joy for us! That was really neat.