I guess you can say I've always had a tender heart. I would be the one crazy kid to cry at the end of "the fox and the hound" over that exchange "we'll always be friends forever," "yeah forever." Tender moments touched my heart, even though I was the tomboy girl who hated wearing dresses, played with matchbox cars, ignored the dolls my mom would give me, and my preference was trains and Lincoln logs. But individuals are crazy, neat, and astounding constantly morphing in their likes and their path of life.

As a teenager I vaguely became aware of baby girls in China that were in orphanages. I decided right then that I would adopt a child. I proclaimed this to anyone that would listen.

I had too much fun in college. Dreams of adoption went on the back burner and I did what any good college kid did away from home...I made friends, made stupid decisions, and for some reason still managed to graduate in four years. Moving back to my home state, I quickly settled into a routine of work, grad school, and learning about life. I started dating an old high school friend of mine and that went well for a while. I then remembered my dream of adopting a child and shared that we could do this! Boyfriend wasn't at all on board with this idea. In my disappointment I eventually became at peace with the idea that adoption wouldn't be a part of my life.

After this boyfriend and I broke it off, I dated here and there, never really becoming serious with anyone else again.

By this time I was done with graduate school and was working hard in the school system. As a Speech/Language Pathologist I assessed many preschool kids. I also assessed many children that were in the foster care system. I learned a lot about the foster care system and quickly became an annoying voice of advocacy for the children in the system. I knew that if I ever were to adopt, I would pursue foster care.

It would be a few years, two casual dating relationships later, after purchasing my townhouse, that I began my quest to be a mom. Most people that knew (which were primarily my co-workers) were supportive. I don't know what it is about the people working in the school system, but many that adopt do so from foster care. Maybe working in a system that is flawed somehow lessons the fear of working with another system that is flawed? I don't know, but in any case, I had nothing but support. I only had one person that thought I was too young to be "throwing my life away/" (Apparently one has to be older than 30 when deciding to be a single mom????????) My family was also very supportive.

I started my quest to get licensed in November of 2008. Was home-studied and licensed by June of 2009. I received my call for Tigger in December of 2009 and I completely panicked. I was ready for a toddler or a preschooler. I had no idea they would actually call me about an infant. Nevertheless, I accepted, called my parents in a panic and we spent over $1,000 at Babies R Us that night. Tigger came to me December 15, 2009. She was 4 months old. I love looking at pictures of last Christmas as it shows two things....Tigger's unsmiling face, and my 'deer in the headlights' look.

I love what we have become this year. A family of two. I will write more on attachment and our bonding experience another time, however, this year with all its surprises, moments of panic, and absolute joy, I would not trade it for anything.

People ask me all the time whether or not being a single mom is hard on me. I can honestly answer "I don't know." It's what I'm used to and it's pretty dang great. Do I wish I had an extra set of hands so I can cook, clean, keep Tigger from stunts that cause imminent death? Sure....but I will tell anyone that being a mom is the best thing in the world.

I still advocate for foster care. I still talk about fost/adopt programs with anyone who will listen. The scary part is that I may decide to do this crazy business again. Choosing to be a mom is the best decision I have ever made.

You can read more from Dannie on her blog here.