Princess-
We researched agency and private adoption, domestic or international. We decided that private domestic adoption would be the best choice for us. We paid our first retainer to an attorney in Feb. 2001. Our son was born in July of 2001. Our daughter was born in Aug. 2002. I truly believe that if you are praying for your children long before you start a family, God will help you find one another- it may be the traditional birth/pregnancy, or it may be a different just as miraculous way. The biggest difference in agency vs. private adoptions is the cost. Many attorneys bill for the time put into you whether or not the adoption actually goes through. There is no cap on what they can charge. If you choose to interview an attorney, always ask what their policy is. Agencies usually have a sliding scale or flat fee. However, their wait tends to be considerable longer. My advice- the younger you are when you start the process, the better. Honestly, age makes a difference in your portfolio. I hope that does not offend anyone.
Good luck! It is an exciting adventure and quite bonding!!!