Registered!!!

We are officially registered in Russia!  And we got Vladivostok!  For those who are not up on adoption-speak, that means that all our paperwork is in and approved (still has to go through the Russian judge, but that is much later) and we are now officially waiting for a child.  And that child will come from Vladivostok.  Vladivostok is a port city on the Pacific, yes, Pacific, Ocean.  (I didn't know Russia touched the Pacific Ocean either but it is just that big).  For a visual, here is a map:

As you can see, it is a pretty far ways away from what I think of when I think of Russia (i.e. Moscow, St. Petersburg).  So far, that the best way to get there is to actually fly to Seoul, South Korea (and there is a direct flight from Atlanta to Seoul so we are in business!).

So now the real wait is on.  What is for sure is that she is born (so start praying people!) and that we can be matched with her any day.  Most people wait about 6 months though.  The process of matching goes like this:  (1) kids are placed in the orphanage and put up for adoption for whatever reason; (2) they are placed on the adoption registry for whatever region they are located; (3) they have to wait 6 months on the Russian-only registry - but kids aren't adopted by Russians generally because of economics and culture (unless a family member steps up but that most likely would happen before they are placed on the registry); (4) then, usually after about 8 months of being "orphaned" they are placed on the international adoption registry for the region.  And that registry is updated daily.  

I am so excited to get to this point.  One very important step closer to holding my daughter in my arms.  Now I need to celebrate!