Is it really that easy?

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful and sweet comments on my last post. Yes, John Urban is adorable and truly one-of-a-kind. And I wouldn't trade him for anything.

A few people asked the question-and it's a good question-Is it really that easy? I mean, do you just pick a kid you want to adopt and start the adoption process?

No, that is not how it typically works. Normally you would start by picking a country whose requirements your family meets, sign on with an agency, start your paperwork, then wait for your referral (or the child you are offered).

Some children, however, are considered more difficult to place because of various special needs, and so they are placed in the waiting child category. Waiting children are children with special needs such as fetal alcohol syndrome, albinism, limb deformities, HIV, disabilities, or cleft palate, just to name a few. Waiting children are also older children and sibling groups.

So, to answer the question, the reason we were able to identify a child before we selected an agency is because the little girl in the yellow dress (I'm not allowed to say her name on a public blog) has Down Syndrome, therefore is a waiting child.

Reece's Rainbow , The Shepherd's Crook , The Russian Lighthouse Project and many other organizations work hard to advocate for these children who have a harder time finding families. Also, Rainbowkids (international), AdoptUsKids (domestic), as well as probably any adoption agency can provide a list of waiting kids in need of families. In fact, here are just a couple of randomly picked photos of waiting children. Love at first sight, anyone?