Paperwork Pregnancy

NOTARIZED, CERTIFIED, AND AUTHENTICATED - "Paper Pregnancy" is the term adoptive parents use to refer to the long wait that is filled with paperwork gathering, filing, FEDEXing (yes, that is now a word), and filling out.  As if it wasnt bad enough that we have to find all these legal documents, it really doesnt matter because they cannot be more than a year old.  So yes - that means birth certificates must be certified as of 364 days ago.  So, the documents must be original and date-stamped within the last year, notarized, certified with the state seal in Sacramento, and then sent to the federal government to be authenticated!! Just to give you an idea:

-Application to home study agency and Placement agency (with app fee)
-Signed contracts and program fees
-Introduction letter to Ethiopian government
-Letter to Toukoul orphanage
-Financial Information form
-Last 2 years of tax returns
-Letter from Bank of America
-2x letters of reference from non-family members
-Letters from employers
-Gaurdianship statement
-Marriage certificate
-Divorce certificate
-Birth certificates
-Deed to home
-Power of Attorney
-New Passport photos
-Color copy of passports
-8-12 photos of family and home etc.
-True copy of Homestudy agency license
-State Criminal Clearance letter
-USCIS approval (immigration)
-Homestudy report
-Obligation of homestudy agency to do 3 post-placement reports
ALL FORMS NOTARIZED, CERTIFIED, AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD


NOTARY - I just spent $370 having someone witness my signature and placing a rubber stamp on a bunch of paperwork today.  I never realized how much money those people make, no wonder there are notaries everywhere!!  Tor blissfully signed away while reading a book on his iphone...with an occasional "Is this the last one?".  No - it is not the last one, we have to make a second trip to have them notarize color copies of our passports....it is a little crazy.  The good news is that I think at this point most of the forms are 'in the mail' from other people and there isnt too much for us to actually do but follow-up and notarize :)

HOME STUDY - The first homestudy visit was rather simple.  Our next one is scheduled for one week from now, and this is when she will talk to Tor and I seperately.  Now if only Boston would behave; he makes us look like horrible parents!  lol, he was jumping all over Emma trying to get her to pet him, and sniffing in her purse for who-knows-what.

In my spare time (when I am not gathering our never-ending list of documents), I have been reading "There is no me without you" by Melissa Fay Greene.  It gives a great perspective on the AIDS crisis in Ethiopia, and background as to why there are so many orphans in the country to begin with.  I think it is soooo important to understand and learn as much as we can about Ethiopia, its history, the people, and the current situation.  I want our child to be proud of their heritage, and know why we made this decision.  Anyways...more about my plans for our little one later on.