Clevelanders Patrick and Mary Stafford did not meet their Russian daughter before they decided to adopt her. Their agency sent them a videotape of the infant. And after extensive background checks by both American and Russian officials they were off to Russia to pick her up with a friend videotaping the process.

Sounds from a video: "Tomorrow you will meet with your child...' 'OK' 'We won't be bringing the child back tomorrow, will we, even if the judge decides immediately....'"

Patrick Stafford: Well, we decided to go overseas because the process doesn't take as long as compared to domestic adoption. We did some research and found that typically we could obtain an adopted child in about a year or less. We had heard stories domestically where it could take upwards of three to five years to get a child.

Stafford says their agency made all the arrangements, hiring drivers, setting up the court date, and the first meeting at the orphanage...

Patrick Stafford: She was afraid, she was. When we adopted her, she was eleven months. And she took one look at me and started crying.She was hesitant to go--to leave the arms of the agency worker. It took her a while to calm down. (baby wails in background) That was the first day; you sort of meet. The second day is the day that you actually, after the court date, go to pick (her) up. And she cried a little bit but once we got her out of the building and into the car she was fine. She kind of eyed me a little warily, but I think the reason for that is there really aren't a lot of males in that type of orphanage setting, so she probably didn't know what a man was.

Some countries require extensive stays--up to 6 weeks--before allowing their children to be adopted by foreigners. Russians handle things a bit quicker. It does help to smooth things along by bringing gifts.

Video: "...I suppose I can give this one.' 'Feel free, I've got many...'"

Patrick Stafford: When you do go over, you do need to bring with you certain items as gifts. It's customary, I believe. Not only to the judge, but to the adoption workers over there, the orphanage workers, et cetera. They range anywhere from maybe pens or towels to--also things for the children as well. We had to bring medicines, for example, children's Tylenol, Pull-Ups that the kids wear, toys for the children. Those are left with the home as well. Kind of gifts of good faith, so to speak.

The Russian judge did grant the adoption but not without ordering one change in plans...

Patrick Stafford: We wanted to make her last name her middle name, so it would have been Sara Paragova. The judge did not like that, so we made Svetlana her middle name. I don't know if he would have stopped the adoption, but we did want her to have part of her Russian heritage so it was very easy for us to make her first name her middle name."

Video, voice of Mary Stafford: "We're finally settling in, she's taking her bottle, we've had three diaper changes and she's calling me mama, so what more could I ask for? She said mama."

In the next few days the Staffords arranged for a passport and visa for their new daughter and then flew back to America. Young Sarah was soon very comfortable with her new parents and her new home, happy and healthy. The total bill for paperwork, travel, and fees: almost 30 thousand dollars. The Wisemans spent about 15 thousand dollars. Both families got happy healthy children. But not every adopted child adapts so easily.