Our First Home Study Visit!

This week we had our first interview with a social worker for our Home Study report.  The Home Study is the first big step in the adoption process, the second is the I-800 approval (U.S. approval to adopt), and the third is the Dossier, which is sent to Colombia.  The Dossier is a HUGE packet of information which serves as our adoption application in Colombia - every single possible detail of our lives is in this packet, down to what time we like to eat dinner.  As I see it, once our Home Study is complete we are a third of the way there!

Ms. Minshew arrived at our house around 10:30am on Tuesday.....we were ready!  I had cleaned the entire house, the dogs were outside (Theo got a pep talk prior about growling at strangers), and we were excited to have our first meeting.  A few minutes later, we let the dogs in and of course....Theo growled. A lot.  Shiloh jumped up on the couch and tried to lick her in the face.  I think they're trying to sabotage the adoption operation!  She, luckily, has dogs and was really nice about it all.  By the time she left, they were both trying to lay in her lap.

The interview consisted of questions about our neighborhood, our jobs, our relationship, why were adopting, what kind of child we want (felt weird to answer that one), our hobbies, and how we think our lives will change with a baby.  Easy enough questions....and we like to talk.  The interview ran an hour over what it was supposed to!  She said we were easy to talk to and that she really enjoyed meeting us.  She couldn't believe that Alonzo and I have know each other since the first grade.  She said in all of her years working with families, she had never heard such a story. And, when she asked us how we thought our lives would change, we said, "completely."  We'll be a family.  We'll have this tiny life that will totally become the center of ours - and we can't wait.

Since our interview ran long, she asked if she could do the house tour next time....so, I cleaned like a maniac for nothing.  And, we're meeting again this Saturday so I have to do it all over again!  One more visit after that and our Home Study will be complete!  Things are moving right along.