Step -3.5

The first thing you have to do when you want to adopt a child is to get a "home study" done. This is done by a licensed social worker, who interviews you, visits your home, makes you write an autobiography, pokes into you business, and generally gets closer than you'd want so that he/she can write a big ol' report that says "Yup, she'll be an OK parent."

The Home Study is officially step 1 on every adoption website there is. Problem is, it's not step 1 for me. Or maybe it is, but I have several steps to get through before I can start on step 1.

Which is not so good for a girl who likes to cross things off the list, and get things done. Feels like I'm not doing anything, when in fact I'm doing a lot.

So, just to make myself feel better, here's the real list:
Step -5: get a job, with benefits, so that I can support Sprout and pay for medical care
Step -4: clean out my house, put 1/3 of my belongings in storage, "stage" it, and put it on the market
Step -3: convince someone to actually *purchase* my house
Step -2: pack up all my remaining things, throw most of it in storage, and move out of my house (sad) and into a rental somewhere (one that will take an 80-lb dog. hmmm.)
Step -1: search for, find, successfully bid on, secure financing for, and buy a new house that will fit me, Sprout and (best case scenario) an au-pair.
Step 0: move into new house, so that I have a Home to Study
Step 1: get a Home Study!!

I'm at Step -3 and a half. That is, the house is on the market (step -4 complete), and a buyer is interested. I got an offer this weekend. It's for less than the asking price, though, which is a bummer becuase I priced the house pretty aggressively. But, I'm submitting a counter-offer tomorrow, which I hope hope hope will be accepted.

So, please think good thoughts. If you pray, please do that too. :-)

If the buyer accepts, then I get to graduate to step -3, and you *know* how much I like crossing things off my list!!