Dossier almost complete!

I'm so happy today, because we FedEx'd our dossier to our adoption agency, and it wasn't supposed to arrive until Wednesday, but it arrived today! I got an email and congratulations from our rep and she informed me that it arrived, and she reviewed it and is sending it on to their headquarters in St. Louis. Yippee! Once it is there, the director of the Russian program will review everything and will call us to begin talking about regions in Russia that our dossier could go to. If there are any "region specific" documents, she will forward them to us...once we select a region. Chris was all smiles when I showed him that email!

This is what we have left to gather for the dossier.... Some additional photos of our house, which I have to take tomorrow and send to be printed. Quickly. Our visa applications, which we need to fill out and send in. Our 1st large check for when the dossier goes to Russia to be translated. (We are hoping to have this accumulated by August 1st). And finally our I171-H form that is our fingerprint approval. This could be a few more weeks... so hopefully it will all be done at the same time.

Chris and I are also taking adoption parenting classes in the form of a DVD series. It's entitled the Heart of the Matter, and it has been very informative, and has opened up some great dialogue between the two of us, as we discuss scenarios, and issues we may encounter with an institutionalized child. We are both feeling better educated, and more equipped. It's funny their are 4 modules and after each module is an online test that each of us must take and submit. Chris thought there were 10 modules, and was bummed that there were only 4. He really has enjoyed this format and educational process...as have I. I personally enjoy the video lecture series far better than reading a book. I think I'm having more success at retaining the information. Hmmm.... what kind of learner does that make me? :-)

So, we really feel as if we are winding down on all of this paper chasing process. I imagine when we are completely done, it will seem quite freeing, as we move on to the next step in the process... Waiting.