Many adoptive parents don’t realize exactly what they’re getting into when they start the adoption process. Sometimes the sheer volume of “little things” is just plain overwhelming — especially if both parents work outside of the home with less-flexible schedules. So, we’re keeping progress of the day-to-day “milestones” and tasks so that others can get some idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that this simple list doesn’t reflect the constant time required to plan, organize, and generally stay on top of things, but we hope it will be useful nonetheless.

A special note: just for kicks, we include in green some of the craziness that surrounded us in the post-adoption process.

Timeline with Milestones - even the little bitty ones

• 04/21/05 - Receive online referral for CO homestudy agency
• 04/22/05 - Begin conversations with homestudy agency
• 08/03/05 - Put adoption “on hold” due to new job and planned move
• 01/05/07 - Identify possible designated adoption - resume talks with agency
• 01/14/07 - Designated adoption falls through
• 01/15/07 - Decide to go forward with private domestic adoption plan
• 01/24/07 - Meet with homestudy agency
• 01/25/07 - Complete application for agency (plus 4 additional docs)
• 01/26/07 - Mail SAFE I Questionnaire to social worker
• 02/06/07 - Shannon’s physical
• 02/08/07 - Shannon breaks her left foot (not adoption-related, but slows her down)
• 02/09/07 - submit CBI/FBI fingerprints
• 02/10/07 - Class #1- Attachment (5 to go)
• 02/10/07 - Turn in “domestic” contract to homestudy agency
• 02/12/07 - Get fingerprinted at county jail and mail to CBI
• 02/20/07 - Order copies of photos for agency files
• 02/21/07 - First homestudy meeting (couples)
• 02/21/07 - Turn in copies of birth/marriage certs, drivers’ licenses, and photos
• 02/22/07 - Send missing information from application to social worker
• 02/23/07 - Dan’s physical
• 02/23/07 - Mail request health insurance letter (to insurance co)
• 02/24/07 - Investigate international adoption possibilities
• 02/26/07 - Receive call from health insurance, need to contact employer
• 02/28/07 - Request health insurance letter from employer
• 03/01/07 - Order check for notary in California for insurance letter
• 03/06/07 - Decide to adopt from Ethiopia
• 03/06/07 - FBI rejects Shannon’s fingerprints
• 03/08/07 - Attend online phone conference with CHSFS
• 03/10/07 - Homestudy meeting #2 (Dan only)
• 03/10/07 - Class #2 - Interracial Adoption (4 to go)
• 03/13/07 - Notarize/mail requests for birth certificates and marriage licenses
• 03/13/07 - Apply to Ethiopia program!!
• 03/14/07 - Homestudy meeting #3 (Shannon only)
• 03/14/07 - Official notice that we did not show up on Child Abuse Registry (duh)
• 03/16/07 - Mail second set of FBI fingerprints (Shannon only)
• 03/18/07 - Receive health insurance letter from employer
• 03/19/07 - CBI receives second set of FBI fingerprints (Shannon only)
• 03/20/07 - Dan’s birth certs arrive
• 03/21/07 - Shannon’s birth certs arrive
• 03/23/07 - Mail I600A to USCIS
• 03/24/07 - Marriage licenses arrive
• 03/25/07 - Witness/notarize wills
• 03/25/07 - Homestudy meeting #4 (couples meeting, home tour/safety check)
• 03/25/07 - Sign and submit “International” contract for homestudy agency
• 03/25/07 - Start online class “With Eyes Wide Open” (Shannon)
• 03/26/07 - Request employer letters
• 03/28/07 - Receive notarized bank letter
• 03/28/07 - Drop off doctor’s letters at medical clinic for signature
• 03/29/07 - Cultural Awareness Parenting Plan submitted
• 03/29/07 - Homestudy agency faxes proof of liability insurance to int’l agency
• 03/29/07 - Receive notarized employer letter for Dan
• 03/30/07 - Go to police station to request local background checks
• 03/30/07 - Pick up notarized doctor’s letters
• 04/01/07 - FBI rejects Shannon’s second set of fingerprints
• 04/02/07 - Pick up notarized police background checks
• 04/02/07 - Receive Shannon’s employer letter
• 04/03/07 - Request letters of recommendations after finding out SW didn’t ;-(
• 04/04/07 - Receive “appointment” letter for USCIS fingerprints
• 04/05/07 - Receive fingerprint card from original FBI rejection??
• 04/11/07 - Final homestudy meeting (to approve report!)
• 04/11/07 - Receive copy of original FBI rejection letter/instructions
• 04/14/07 - Class #3 - Parenting and Discipline (3 to go)
• 04/14/07 - Meet again with SW to review final homestudy report
• 04/17/07 - Leave message at CBI re: Shannon’s second set of FBI fingerprints
• 04/19/07 - Talk to CBI re: Shannon’s fingerprints (find out second set rejected)
• 04/19/07 - Name check requested through CBI
• 04/21/07 - Attend infant/child CPR/first aid class with Red Cross
• 04/25/07 - FBI completes name check; CBI mails to CDHS
• 04/30/07 - FBI clearance is official!
• 05/06/07 - Meet with local agency to clarify expectations - resolution found!
• 05/08/07 - Homestudy agency receives notice of FBI clearance
• 05/08/07 - SW notifies us of possible domestic AA baby
• 05/10/07 - Homestudy agency informs us that interagency agreement is complete
• 05/11/07 - Final final final homestudy review
• 05/11/07 - Homestudy agency informs us of Shannon’s FBI clearance
• 05/12/07 - Get USCIS fingerprints done
• 05/12/07 - Class #4 - Growth and Development (2 to go!)
• 05/13/07 - Submit “profile” to domestic agency for AA adoption
• 05/13/07 - Draft of homestudy for international agency review on hold
• 05/18/07 - House goes under contract for 30-day close
• 05/23/07 - THE CALL…surprise, we’re it. B-mom might be in labor. Jump in the car and drive 13 hours
• 05/24/07 - B-mom had false labor, but goes into real labor this evening. Meet b-mom in labor room
• 05/24/07 - Homestudy agency FedExes necesssary paperwork to domestic agency
• 05/25/07 - Joe is born in the wee hours of the morning
• 05/26/07 - Problems with FedEx arrival; domestic agency SW drives to distribution facility to save the day
• 05/27/07 - We bring Joseph “home” from the hospital to our hotel suite
• 06/01/07 - Joe’s first doctor visit, then we get the ICPC ok, check out of our hotel, and drive home
• 06/11/07 - First post-placement visit with SW
• 06/15/07 - Grandma Debbie and Auntie Robin visit for the weekend
• 06/21/07 - Grammie Lo visits for a few days
• 06/25/07 - Granddad Bill visits for a few days
• 07/14/07 - Class #6 - Lifelong Issues in Adoption (final class!)
• 07/19/07 - Fly with Joe to California for cousin Dallas’s wedding; Joe gets a great No. Cal. welcome!
• 08/14/07 - Begin house hunting
• 08/28/07 - Second post-placement visit with SW
• 08/31/07 - Fly with Joe to Southern California for another grand welcome to the family
• 09/09/07 - Change location of house search and start looking for new realtor
• 09/13/07 - Late night showing of dream house. Make offer that goes in to seller’s agent in the morning
• 10/04/07 - Germom visits for a few days
• 10/11/07 - Close on house; renovations begin
• 10/19/07 - Grandma Debbie visits again
• 10/25/07 - Granddad Bill and Uncle Billy visit and help with remodel of new house
• 10/29/07 - Third and final post-placement visit with SW
• 11/08/07 - Granddad Bill and Uncle Billy return to finish electrical at new house
• 11/19/07 - Grandpa Jim and Grammie Lo visit for a week
• 12/22/07 - Nuttall family Christmas in Winter Park
• 12/27/07 - Scheduled move canceled due to snow
• 12/30/07 - Rescheduled move
• 12/31/07 - The three of us pack up the dregs of the townhouse, stuff into Uhaul trailer, and get to new house at 11:50pm
• 01/01/08 - Social worker notifies us that missing paperwork from out of state arrived
• 01/03/08 - Last minute visit by Germom and Noni P to consider Denver move
• 01/07/08 - Dan throws out his back (turns out to be herniated disc)
• 01/16/08 - Dan starts what turns out to be 4 months of physical therapy
• 01/24/08 - Homestudy update: new home inspection; also paperwork review/signatures for court
• 01/31/08 - Joe gets his first ear infection
• 02/09/08 - Assigned court date in April for finalization
• 03/05/08 - Germom and Noni P return to finalize Noni P’s Denver move
• 03/26/08 - Shannon takes Joe to California to help Noni P pack, work at Cal for a couple of days, and visit with the grandfolks
• 04/20/08 - Coordinate movers from Greeley storage unit AND Noni P’s furniture; set up Noni P’s room
• 04/21/08 - Noni P moves to Colorado (yay!)
• 04/24/08 - Granddad Bill and Grandma Debbie arrive
• 04/25/08 - Finalize adoption in court!
• 04/26/08 - Gotcha Day party