And just like that . . .

Our dossier:  it looks less impressive than it actually is

. . . after five months of nearly non-stop work. . . our dossier is out of my hands and on its way to Holt.   I felt all trembly and nervous Friday afternoon as I finished up the photocopies and handed it over to be mailed.  Like, I can't believe this is it. . . my labor of love, in a sense, complete.  (And in a whole other sense, just beginning.)  Quite surreal, actually, to have conquered this task.  And I'm not gonna lie--I'm pretty darn proud of myself!  In case you're interested, here is what our dossier comprised:  

Family Information Form

Application Letter

Birth Certificate - husband

Birth Certificate - wife

Marriage Certificate

Employment Letter- husband

Employment Letter- wife (in my case, I had to write a letter stating that I am NOT employed...which I found amusing) 

Certificate of Financial Status

Certificate of General Physical Examination- husband

Certificate of General Physical Examination- wife

Police Clearance/Domestic - husband

Police Clearance/Domestic - wife

Adoption (Home) Study

Passport Page -husband

Passport Page -wife

I-797(this is approval of the I-800A application)

Photographs (several specific photos of our family in our home, properly attired, as well as photos of the front and back of our house)

Nearly every document on this list had to be notarized, then certified by the Secretary of State in the state where the document originated (we had a few Kansas and Florida documents mixed in), and finally, authenticated by the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. 

And hence, the massive collection of paper on my table.  The good folks at Staples are going to miss seeing my face.  [Fun fact:  we have spent $15.64 on photocopies so far.]