Backin it Up

So, we are not exactly at the beginning.  I'm going to back up with Step 1....Research.  This includes a whole of reading both online and in actual books and a whole lot of talking to anyone who knows anyone who has adopted.


 Below is the list of books I recommend for when you are just thinking about adoption.  You obviously don't have to read all of them cover to cover as there is a lot of repeat. I have found the information invaluable.  It helped make our decision regarding domestic or international.

Complete Adoption Book
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Adoption-Book-Everything-Adopt/dp/1593373694/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292119153&sr=1-2

Complete Idiots Guide to Adoption
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Adoption-Second/dp/159257274X/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292119153&sr=1-9

Adoption Resource Book (the bible! a must have)
http://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Resource-Book-4th/dp/0062733613/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292119240&sr=1-21

Adoption for Dummies
http://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Dummies-Tracy-Barr/dp/0764554883/ref=sr_1_29?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292119303&sr=1-29

You Can Adopt
http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Adopt-Adoptive-Families/dp/0345504011/ref=sr_1_49?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292119339&sr=1-49

Of course some of these books you can get from Ebay or from your local library but I found them extremely packed with information and very helpful.  Just be careful when you do read books that you get the latest edition possible as so many things change so quickly such as international law and state adoption laws.  New requirement come up all the time so keep up to date on the web as well. 


Once you are certain of your choice to adopt and can determine whether you want a child internationally or domestically, whether you are going to foster from the system or go with an agency, the sections of these adoption parts will jump out at you and you can concentrate on that information.  It's a lot to figure out.


For our family we have chosen an infant domestic adoption.  It was not a hard decision for us.  International right now is a difficult process even more so than a few years ago.  The red tape is not something we were interested in dealing with and of course a totally personal decision. 


So our search and research kind of started over so we can go back to the books and online resources to find out more about what it means to adopt domestically.  More to come on online resources later. 


Here we go......