Home Study

People who are pregnant post ultrasound pictures, people that adopt post maps! Yesterday we went up to Edwardsville for our first home study meeting. We were pretty nervous, but someone who has already been through the process reassured us that it would be okay. And it was. We think it went well. Luca helped our cause by telling the social worker about all the planets, including Sedna, and getting upset when it was suggested that Pluto is a now minor planet. He once told me that when he grows up he is going to make Pluto bigger so it can be a planet again. Perhaps! The social worker gave us more forms - surprise! - and asked us some questions about adoption, parenting and how we will make this child part of our life. I liked answering these questions and thinking about the things we will do to make her a part of our family and teach her about her culture and ours at the same time.

As Scott said, this is getting more real every day. It is so exciting to think about our little girl out there somewhere.

We had to convince Luca that we weren't actually picking up "the baby girl" in "Kaz - nik - stan" yesterday. He was sure of it. We had lunch in Edwardsville and he told the waitress that that was what were were doing after lunch. You should have seen the waitress's face!

So, we meet the social worker 2 more times. We go up there again and she will interview us individually and then she will come down her to see us in our element. We also have to send a number of forms to her - like financial statements & medical reports - and get fingerprinted for background checks from the state of Illinois and the FBI. I want to get all of this done ASAP because we have to get the home study done before anything else can happen.

I am going to try to post some links to blogs/websites set up by those who have or are adopting from Kazakhstan. These provide great inspiration to us!