paperwork and more paperwork

So I havent blogged in a while since I have been up to my ears in paperwork. We have gotten our fingerprints done and sent off to the department of justice for FBI clearance (sounds so official), signed numerous contracts and fee agreements, and have answered this lengthy questionaire about ourselves, our childhood, how we were raised, our parents, our marriage, how we will be as parents, how we will raise a child, etc. Really makes you look at yourself and you partner and dig down deep. We have attended our first adoption class, it is a four class series explaining the process of adoption from our side and the birth mothers, we will get to meet and talk with other families that have already gone through the process and have there child, and also with a birth mother who has gone though the process as well. I think it will be nice to meet others who have done this and know how we feel, and get to know a birthmother and how she went through the process and how she feels, I think this is such an amazing thing she has done and how much of a gift she has given someone, I am really excited to be able to meet her, I will need to bring tissues for the next class for sure!!!! There are alot of couples in our class and a nice single woman as well that are going through the same steps as we are. Last night we all got to introduce ourselves and explain how we got to this step in our adoption process and any thing we are scared about or dont undertand. We all have the same fears, that the birthmother will change her mind, we all said this as everyone went around the room. I went first so I was a little nervous but glad I did since everyone said that they had the same fears as Allen and I about the birthmother changing her mind and the baby taken away after we got home. It was great to be in a room where everyone knows just how you feel we all bonded instantly. I am looking forward to next Tuesday. There was a couple who already has a birthmother and she is going to have twins so they are very excited and will find out what the sex of the babies are next week, she is about 19 weeks along and due in April. A Lot of the other couples have already had there homestudy done and are working on there Dear Birthmother letter so it will be nice to be able to ask them questions since we arent quite that far along yet. We did submit our paperwork last night and were told that we would be contacted in about 2 weeks to set up our first homestudy appointment, there are four of these as well and should be able to get them done in a month or two. So we have the ball rolling and will keep the blog updated as we go along.

Allen and Stacy and soon to be baby Davis(keep your fingers crossed)