http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067 For those of you who don't know, we are in process of adopting a child from China.&nbsp; When we first started the process, we expected the wait time between submitting paperwork and receiving a referral would be about eighteen months.&nbsp; We knew it would be longer than our first adoption (a seven month wait), but we were prepared.&nbsp; However, the wait time has steadily increased, and we are looking at a four year wait approx.&nbsp; I just want to say I Am Not An Elephant!!!!!!!&nbsp; That long of a &quot;gestation&quot; period doesn't fly well with humans.&nbsp; I'm probably feeling this way because we just started renewing our paperwork - which we didn't have to do last time because the wait time was so much shorter.&nbsp; There is no binder in the world large enough for all this paperwork.&nbsp; It's funny, too.&nbsp; %99.9 of the paperwork is exactly the same, and our answers/responses are the same.&nbsp; The only thing that has changed is our age!&nbsp; Our jobs haven't changed, our home hasn't changed, our health is the same, we still have the&nbsp;same educational background we did 18 mos. ago, our criminal records haven't changed (uh, that would be non existant), etc.&nbsp; I wish all that was required was a new fingerprinting, just to reassure all those involved that we still haven't broken the law.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I am praying that this will be the only time we have to renew.&nbsp; I really want this process to speed up - warp speed, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp; For those of you who don't know, we are in process of adopting a child from China.&nbsp; When we first started the process, we expected the wait time between submitting paperwork and receiving a referral would be about eighteen months.&nbsp; We knew it would be longer than our first adoption (a seven month wait), but we were prepared.&nbsp; However, the wait time has steadily increased, and we are looking at a four year wait approx.&nbsp; I just want to say I Am Not An Elephant!!!!!!!&nbsp; That long of a &quot;gestation&quot; period doesn't fly well with humans.&nbsp; I'm probably feeling this way because we just started renewing our paperwork - which we didn't have to do last time because the wait time was so much shorter.&nbsp; There is no binder in the world large enough for all this paperwork.&nbsp; It's funny, too.&nbsp; %99.9 of the paperwork is exactly the same, and our answers/responses are the same.&nbsp; The only thing that has changed is our age!&nbsp; Our jobs haven't changed, our home hasn't changed, our health is the same, we still have the&nbsp;same educational background we did 18 mos. ago, our criminal records haven't changed (uh, that would be non existant), etc.&nbsp; I wish all that was required was a new fingerprinting, just to reassure all those involved that we still haven't broken the law.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I am praying that this will be the only time we have to renew.&nbsp; I really want this process to speed up - warp speed, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp; en-us <p>amen!</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067/#c_263573 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067/#c_263573 <p>amen!</p> <p>look at those chubby knees!  the kiddo was and is a beautiful little girl.  hope your new baby arrives sooner than later.</p> <br /> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067/#c_263752 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067/#c_263752 <p>look at those chubby knees!  the kiddo was and is a beautiful little girl.  hope your new baby arrives sooner than later.</p> <br /> <p>wishing the best for you!!!!</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067/#c_263778 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/29067/#c_263778 <p>wishing the best for you!!!!</p>