So why an international adoption? Once we decided to adopt, we spent endless hours trying to figure out which type of adoption would work best for us. The options were overwhelming at first - domestic adoption, foster adoption, international adoption, agency adoption, private adoptions and on and on. Like most other things in life, there were pros and cons to each option.
After we weighed out all of the options, we figured out that international adoption felt like the best fit. Unlike a domestic adoption where you can sometimes wait for years before you are matched up, an international adoption offers a more predictable timeline. As it currently stands, adoptions from Guatemala are taking about 6 to 8 months from the time you turn in all of your paperwork.
So why Guatemala? Once we decided to go with an international adoption, we still had to figure out which country was the right fit for us. Once again, the options were overwhelming - China, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Russia and Guatemala are some of the most frequent countries for international adoption. We again weighed the options and it turned out that Guatemala was the right fit for us. They have a great track record of healthy babies and they actually allow you to go and visit your baby as often as you like while the paperwork is being processed. We also liked the fact that it was close enough to visit frequently in the future if we choose to do so. We'd love to be able to take our son or daughter back to their home country in the future, and we figure it will be much easier to take a trip to Guatemala than to China or Khazakstan.
So what's the next step? We've already completed our home study with a social worker and we're just finishing up the paperwork portion of the process. Once everything is turned in, we hope to get our referal in about 1 to 3 months! The referal is the point where they actually provide you with a picture of your new son or daughter. The vast majority of the matches from Guatemala are boys, so we are planning to be matched with a son. After that, the real hard part begins. We'll have to wait another 5 months or so until we can actually take him or her home. We've talked about taking a trip to go and see our new child before we can actually take him or her home. The difficult part is trying to figure out if it will be harder to wait for 5 months without ever seeing our new baby or going to visit our baby without being able to bring him or her home!
As we mentioned earlier, thanks a lot for all of your love and support as we go through this process. Our friends and family mean the world to us. We can't wait to add to our family and share the love that we've shared with all of you throughout the years. Stay tuned for additional updates!
Love,
Pete and Tanya
7 comments:
Pete and Tanya, he is absolutely gorgeous. You are right, Daddy Pete should be a little jealous of that hairline! We can't wait to meet our nephew! We love him already! He is very lucky to have you as parents.
I am so happy for you two. He is going to be a very lucky boy, that is no doubt. We can't wait to meet him.
Dear Mamasita and Papa,
How blessed are all of you! One lucky little boy to find his forever parents and two lucky people to find such a beautiful little boy. Tanya that serious look with the slight drool in the corner of his mouth reminds me a little of you as a young baby. I can't express my feelings, it makes me cry just thinking of how much joy you, Pete and "Burrito Baby" will have. Please explain to him very early about the crazy Eichhorst-Francisco clan. Can't wait to hold him and especially spoil him!
Love Auntie Leslie and Uncle Tom
Congratulations! He is a very handsome young man. He is blessed to have the two of you as parents. I wish you the all the best on your journey as new parents.
Valyncia
Oh My! He is beautiful!!
Many congratulations from the office of Francisco Tile, Inc. where even those of us not related to you have been eagerly awaiting updates!
~Patricia Huntley
Oh my gosh you guys, he is just adorable.How very exciting for you both. When I look at his picture(which I can't stop doing) I just want to hold him) You are right, the next few months will be very hard, but you can already see the results of your wait and he's beautiful. We are so excited and happy for you two and there couldn't possibly be a luckier little boy than this one. We love you both so much and couldn't be happier.Love you guys, a very proud and happy Grandma and Grandpa
Lions and Tigers and Bears . . . oh my! Auntie is just down the road swinging in the trees of Costa Rica sending lots of love from the Rainforest to the both of you as you open the door to expanding, not only your family, but most importantly, your global conciousness in helping stop World Hunger. It is every where! What ever the circumstances where, not having your own children, I believe, this is the greater choice from the Creator, a higher priority to care for the ones that are here and hungry before bringing more humans into these densley over populated world. What better people to answer the prayer and step forth then my Petro and Babygirl!! I can hear Rosie singing from the heavens into the heart of our new bundle of joy, "JO-OOOOOOSE CAAAAAAAN YOU SEE"?
Until we meet again which will be very soon in Guatemala. . . Namaste!
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