WACAP It Is!

We spent hours last night at WACAP asking questions and attending an informational session. We both were overwhelmed with how much information we got, we both sort of "shut down" a few hours into it. There is a TON to consider. We both are also amazed at how long the process takes for international adoption, though it does vary from country to country. We are officially applying today with WACAP with our application packet and first fee. The first fee of MANY fees...! We are moving forward with getting on the dossier waiting list with the Chinese government. Our first step will be an extensive home study, conducted directly with WACAP. After the home study and dossier submission to China, it will take a 32-36+ month wait. Chinese adoptions are very systematic. All pending adoptive parents are in a queue, depending on dossier acceptance, no matter what agency they submit from, from around the world. There are currently thousands of dossiers in the queue from all over the world to adopt from China. All these ahead of us. We've decided against domestic adoption at this time. It's a long story, but we both feel better about international adoption and our decision to pursue with China. We have decided on a girl. We have two adorable nieces from China that Beep's sister has adopted in the past few years. We are excited that our daughter will have cousins in the family of the same heritage and background. On this side of the family it will be all nieces...I'll admit I'm a little emotional about this whole process. We've been trying to have kids for 6+ years, and now an additional 3 year wait for the adoption process we want to follow. It will be well worth the wait, once that day finally gets here.  WACAP just went through an agency rebranding project. They have had photo shoots done of recent adoptive parents and international children. I thought to myself "I am on board with this, look at the Caucasian male holding/hugging his new Chinese daughter!" I got all teary eyed. It got me really excited to be able to be in his shoes down the road.