Snapshots from the adoption process

Our adoption went surprisingly quickly. From the day we signed on with VCI to the day we landed in Fayetteville with our two children took exactly seven months. But just because it went by quickly doesn't mean that it didn't take a lot of hard work. First, there was the nine inch dossier to prepare. We had to go through red tape required by two countries. First, there was getting the United States' approval to adopt internationally. For that, we had FBI and local police background checks. We had physicals, testing for illnesses and vaccinations. We had a homestudy which involved everything from how we resolve conflicts, to the balance in our checkbook, to our feelings about parenting, to whether we have water hazards on our property. Then we had to get Russia's approval to adopt. In addition, they wanted to see photos of our nursery, proof of home ownership, updated medicals, and I can't even remember what else. All in all, it took us about two months of hard work to get our dossier compiled. Boy, did we celebrate when that was finished!

Our very first step towards adopting - getting fingerprinted for the FBI background check and dropping off our I-600A, the petition to adopt an orphan overseas.

Heath getting tested for T.B. (He was in the clear, by the way.)

Working on the nursery. Here's Will's bed!

The courthouse in Samara, where our adoption was finalized.

Our first night together as a family of four at the Marriott in Samara city.

Flying home. (This was a loooooong flight!)