Paperwork Part #1 = DONE!!

We have FINALLY completed Paperwork Part #1 and all that goes with it...whew!   The courier just picked it up from the house this afternoon, so it will be in our attorney's hands by tomorrow morning.  And we are REALLY EXCITED!!!  Everything feels so "official" now.  Our adoption consultant told me today that we now need to consider ourselves as "EXPECTING" because potential birthmothers will be able to start viewing our portfolio VERY soon...

Which brings us to start working on our Baby P To-Do's for this week:

1. Get together approximately 80 pictures of professional quality (in 5x7's) of the two of us together, enjoying different activities/vacations, with our immediate families, pets, house, etc... (I'm never one to have a shortage of pictures, so this is already done and the pictures are here ready to go...YAY!!)

2.  Write our "Dear Birthmother" letter.  This will not be an easy task.  The Birthmother Letter is our opportunity to represent ourselves to potential birthparents.  Essentially, this is a one page letter that verbally paints a picture of our life, including basic information, our family philosophy, hopes and dreams for Baby P, etc... This will be the birthmother's first impression of us, so it's very important and will take a lot of time, I'm sure.

3. And finally, we have to write one paragraph of text for each of the following headings: About Us, Home, and Family.  

All of these elements will be combined and used in our portfolios (similar to a scrapbook) that are given for potential birthmothers to view and learn more about us and our family.

As soon as we get all of these things sent back to our attorney and adoption consultant (which will be in the next week or so), then birthmothers can start looking at our profiles and we could be "chosen" any day.  We also have to start the Home Study and FBI Fingerprint process within the next 30 days.  If, by chance, we are chosen by a birthmother before the Home Study is complete...then the state will "rush" the Home Study and turn it around as quickly as possible. 

Like I said, it's all very exciting but very overwhelming at the same time.  We can't wait to meet the baby that God has created for our family, but we're also nervous at the prospect of becoming parents for the first time and all of the responsibility that goes along with it.  Please continue praying for our family - specifically for the birthmother whom we know is out there.  I can't even imagine the things she must be going through and the difficult decisions she is having to make.  

Thank you, again, for all of your support and prayers.  We will keep you updated with any news on Baby P!