Adoption Timeline

2013
November - I start really thinking about adoption for the very first time and read countless blogs of birth mothers and adoptive families. KK is nowhere near ready to consider it.

2014
June - KK and I decide it's time to actually look into adoption and see if it's something we're really interested.

July - We start the month with an hour-long intro section with a national agency's local office. We want to run screaming from the office because it was just. so. overwhelming. Too much to decide (international vs. domestic, what sort of "special needs" you are willing to "accept") and the thought of another process we can't really control is terrifying. BUT... on our vacation at the end of the month, after a lovely wedding and right before mass, we have a great heart-to-heart and decide that yes, we want to adopt domestically!

September - After researching several local and national agencies, we sign on with a national agency! We begin the paperwork and prepare for the home study.

October - Home study. So much paperwork, and it's hard to find the time dedicate to it. We meet our social worker and really enjoy working with her.

November - Another social worker visit, more homework. One of the pitfalls of moving around so much in these first few years of marriage is that we have to get child protective background checks from every state we've called home in the last five years (four total)!

December - We complete all visits and paperwork related to the home study. We also complete a profile with our "main" agency that helps us discern our openness related to a child's race, medical history, and in-utero drug exposure. It was a really tough process, but we took it very seriously, learned so much, and feel good about our level of openness.

January - Home study done and in the hands of our "main" agency for review!