Welcome!

Robert and I have created this blog to keep all of our friends and family (that's you!) as informed as we can about our adoption process. This is a very exciting time in our lives! A few months ago, after many months of research and talking, we made the decision to pursue international adoption. Since then we have chosen our agency, Bay Area Adoption Services (BAAS), who will help us become "matched" with our child and guide us through the complex process. We enrolled in an all-day adoption class during which we learned about all of the documents and bureaucracy and waiting, but also met some new parents with their beautiful adopted children. It increased our anticipation :)

In December, we met with our social worker, Cindy, who has been assigned to conduct our home-study process. This includes 4 interviews with us, including one at our home, and is meant to complete the account of who we are. Cindy is very supportive and, although the process can be a bit nerve-wracking, we know it's all for a wonderful purpose! She will also carry out post-placement visits after we bring our child home, mostly to see how our child is adjusting and if we have any questions.

In early January, we will meet with the "country expert" and choose a country from which to adopt. After ruling out many countries for many different reasons (including cost, travel time, waiting periods, age of children, fetal alcohol syndrome, corruption, political instability, etc), we are focused mostly on South Korea, Ethiopia, and Colombia, but these are open to change. South Korea has a first-rate foster care system, with the children receiving high quality care and some information usually being known about their health and biological parents. We are researching the countries in detail right now. We would be equally happy with a boy or a girl and are expressing no preference. We hope to adopt a child under a year old.

We'll continue to post updates and photos throughout the process and even after we adopt, as a way of keeping everyone connected with this beautiful new addition to our family. Feel free to comment on any of our posts by simply clicking on "Comment." Happy '09!