***Pinkwedding05**

crystalpopcorn

We seem to have a lot in common. ?For starters, I am originally from central Illinois. ?I am also just starting the adoption process. ?I am in the research / agency selection phase, like you. ?I don't plan to apply until summer, so that our kids are spaced a little further apart. ?Korea is our program of choice right now as well. ?Lately people who use the agency we are considering have received referrals for a baby boy 4 months after they apply. ?That scares me a little. ?If the agency expects that to continue, then we might wait until later to apply for age spacing and financial reasons. ?

Anyway, your post just jumped out at me b/c of the similarities. ?I wanted to say hello and congrats on your baby girl.?

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pinkwedding05

UGH!  My response was deleted!!

I'm glad we have so much in common because I often feel like the odd man out around here because of my situation. 

Who are you thinking of using for Korea?  Bethany is basically our only option.  They won't let us do ANYTHING until she is 12 mo.  The problem is that other staff members were telling me 6 mo, and then the program manager told me it was 12 and they wouldn't budge.  Grrr...get your story straight.

We're looking at 12-16 mo, but it seems like it could be more like 18-24 from app to referral.  4 mo would be awesome, but scary!!  I wish they would at least let me do the HS. 

Keep in touch! 

crystalpopcorn

We are looking at AAC. ?They are based in Colorado, and place in Colorado, Utah and (I think) Wyoming. ?They told me that the wait for a baby boy would be 12 months from the time of application, and the girl wait is 18-24 months. ?These times are based on the time from formal application, not homestudy. ?The homestudy is started when you become number 10 on the waiting list. ?I am in a Yahoo group for this agency. ?Some families are receiving their referrals for baby boys 4-5 months after they apply. ?That is crazy fast. ?

Ideally, DS will be 2.5 - 3 when we bring number 2 home. ?We may postpone our plans until late 2009 if the referrals are moving that fast. ?However, part of me wants to move forward anyway. ?I know there are rumors of Korea closing in 2012, and I would rather move forward as soon as we can, as opposed to missing out on the opportunity. I guess we will see.

Good luck to you. ?Oh, and BTW, AAC told me that they "generally like the children to be at least one year apart in age." ??

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