Progress

Look at those dark brown eyes!  They are so beautiful.

We're closing in on the end of our paperwork for our home study.  Finally!  We had our passport appointments Monday.  I had my fingerprinting done yesterday (Brian already did his).  Just a few more forms to fill out and one more hour of adoption education classes and we can send it all in to our home study agency.  After they receive it, they assign us a social worker who will make a couple of visits to our home.  We'll also go in to their office for a couple of interviews.  I can't wait!

After that process we begin to compile our Dossier, which is just a binder FULL of documents from every source you can imagine that the government in his country requires.  When we get that finished, we mail it to our adoption agency, who then checks to make sure it's complete, who then mails it to Arnold's country to be translated.  Once translated, and accepted, we can be officially "registered" in his country to adopt, and they send us our first travel date.

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support we've received so far.  Reaction to our adoption has been mixed, which was expected, but overall it's been a very positive reception and we appreciate it so much.  It is hard to explain the why's and how's of something that took us by surprise as well, but when something is right in your heart, you just have to trust that it's the right thing to do.  Do I have my fears and doubts?  Of course, like any expecting mother would have.  But I am thrilled beyond belief to make this child ours, and help him see that there is a whole world out there who loves him and wants him to have a happy, safe, loved life.