Slowly but not so slowly!

I thought I would update everyone about the process. Brian and I had our first home visit last Thursday and it went fantastic! Kim our licenser is very nice and we enjoyed showing her our home. During the visit she walked thru our house to let us know what kinds of things need to be fixed or modified. The list was not as long as we had thought and consisted of things that we already knew. 

The construction list is short: put up a banister and railing on the stairs going into the basement, fix the wall up stairs in the master bedroom that is open to below, and add to a railing that is in front of our house so a child can not access the ravine.

Common safety fixes were also no surprise: putting all the booze in a hard to reach place, medicine and cleansers locked away, have a first aid kit handy, night lights, fire extinguishers, child proofing the kitchen and bathroom, and outlet covers.

The more personal things: physicals for humans and pets, filling out financial forms declaring that we have not been married before with a copy of our marriage certificate, California back ground checks and confirmation that our septic had been pumped recently.

For the most part everything is complete, and the rest will be done after our vacation. The hitch is that is has to be complete before our last home visit that will take place the first week of September! Yep that is right if you are doing the math in your head, this means we will be licensed by the middle of September!!! YIKES!! Brian and I were shocked to hear this, Kim even commented on how fast things are moving for us. So by the middle of September Brian and I will be waiting for that phone call that we have been matched with a child!!  

LET THE NESTING BEGIN! Ok more like the stress of getting everything done!

On a more immediate note, we have our second home visit TOMORROW!! This visit will consist of questions and answers, and from what I hear can be a little personal. Ohh I can not wait.

For those of you who have inquired about what you can do, we can always use some extra hands around the house. Construction and painting are at the top of our list, you don't need to be Pablo Picasso, or Norm Abrams!

It has been about 5 months since we first started this process and I have learned so much, not only about the adoption process but about me. I have so much to be thankful for and sharing this journey with the people I love is just a bonus. 

Amy