You Know You're a Waiting Family When...

1) You give your agency a special ringtone in your phone because you're sick of getting your hopes up when you hear the default ringtone.

2) Every holiday or milestone or fun activity that passes, you find yourself hoping and praying that next Christmas/Easter/Thanksgiving/4th of July/Halloween/birthday/spring/summer/Disneyland trip/whatever you will have your child/children home with you to share in the celebration.

3) You find yourself looking longingly at the adorable children's clothes in every shop you enter, and the only thing stopping you from buying them is not knowing the right age, gender, and size to buy them in.

4) You start checking things off of your "pre-kids bucket list."  For me, it was cake decorating classes and a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain (it's going to be quite a while before our little ones "make height" for rides like X2 and Tatsu). 

5) You find yourself torn between wanting a referral RIGHT FREAKING NOW and feeling like you're running out of time to learn your child/children's language.

6)  Plans you make with other people that involve what's happening more than a month from now have a "standard disclaimer" involved.

7) Your father has actually heard you use the phrase "standard disclaimer" when taking about your plans for two months from now.  He knew exactly what you meant.

8) You are so excited about your upcoming adoption -- and you're willing to talk about it with anyone who will listen.

9) You keep up with the news in the country you're adopting from -- and so does your family.

10) You've scoured Trip Advisor for reviews of hotels and restaurants to visit on your trip(s).

11) You've gone to restaurants in the US that specialize in the food from your child/children's culture.

12) You've prepared some of that food yourself.

13) You read everything your local library has about your child/children's country.  If all they have is children's books and travel guides (welcome to adopting from Central Asia, enjoy the lack of books), then that's what you read.

14) You have spots in your house where you plan to display cultural art that you plan to buy "in country."  Ex -- hanging a Kyrgyz rug on the wall.

15) You "speak adoption" fluently, and you forget that most people don't use words like "dossier," "referral," "apostille," "home study," etc. on a daily basis.

16) You check your email.  First thing, last thing, every five minutes, whatever. 

17) You check your snail mail box compulsively, wanting a letter the USCIS.  You tell yourself you're checking for an Amazon package, but that's a lie.

18) If you're using an out-of-state agency, you know the conversion to their time zone without even thinking about it.  You've been known to wait to go to the grocery store until it's no longer "business hours" there when waiting for a call back from the agency.

Do any of you have any good "you know you're waiting when..." moments to add?  Please share them in the comments.  :)