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Our first meeting with the adoption agency is coming up in a week and a half!! Yay!

We're really getting excited. Between that and the blog.. its all becoming more real to us. Although, it still seems a little like a fantasy or wishful thinking.. not like real-reality yet.
I guess it will become more so after we sign the application, write our 5 page autobiographies, and prepare for our home-studies.
For those of you wondering... WHAT? Oh, Yes... It is true..

One of the many steps in the adoption process is writing our autobiographies. (One for Stuart and another one for me.) Each one must be from 2-5 pages long and include information from early childhood, school years, employment history, courtship and marriage, lifestyle, extended family, and why we want to adopt.
We actually have an outline from the agency that gives us more detailed questions to make the process a bit easier... yeah, right ;)
There will be a ton of reflecting and self-analysis.. Definitely good stuff to know and understand about ourselves, especially as we become parents.

A home-study is basically what it sounds like.. A social worker from the agency will thoroughly read our autobiographies, reference letters, applications, etc. And then come to our home to ask questions regarding what she has already learned/read and any other questions or concerns she may have..
Of course, our home, itself, will be "inspected", as well, to make certain it is child-safe.
Note to self: Clean out garage ASAP.. it isn't even human-safe right now ;)
Overall, there will be 2-3 preapproval home-studies and 3 post-placement home-studies.
Sooo in other words, we will need to keep things tidy for a very, very long time!