Joede,
As someone who is just starting the process...I can tell you it is hard to not take a step back and breathe instead of jumping in head first!
Once we decided to adopt, I wanted my baby, and I wanted my baby NOW! I have no patience!
BUT, I am thankful for the time the process takes now. It will help us get things together that we wouldn't have ordinarily given the time to do!
It's exciting too, having picked a country! Now you can concentrate on gathering info from agencies that help coordinate China adoptions. DH and I loved the idea of China and are considering that if we ever adopt again, it will definitely be from there. (We don't meet the age requirements currently, and would have to wait another 3 years before we do - there goes that patience thing)