[diamondj]

[Edited To Remove Agency discussion] We saw the first photo of our daughter in April 04 and scooped her up in July that year, when she was 6 mos old (we had already been well through the home study process by the time we decided to go international, so I'm not counting that time).

Our costs were in line with Teranga's, above. We opted for the Sheraton, which by US standards is moderately priced ($250/night) and is VERY comfortable. We also brought our then-4-year-old, and the pool there was a lifesaver. That goes to bringing your teenage child. We thought it was very important for our son to be a part of his sister's entry into our lives, and he was a real hero through all the frustrations that come with long-distance international travel. His child's enthusiasm really kept us focused on what we were doing.