Family Joy

Mark and I had the most AMAZING weekend. Friday was easily one of the best days of my life. When Mark and I first decided to adopt, we didn't have a clear idea of what kind of adoption we wanted: closed, semi-closed, or open. I think we were leaning towards a semi-closed adoption which basically means limited contact (i.e. letters, meetings before delivery, pictures, updates, etc) but we promised ourselves to keep an open mind. After attending some classes and reading blogs that I love, I noticed that open adoptions were becoming more and more  popular. The feedback was so positive, but I didn't know if it was something that would be right for Mark and I.  I honestly didn't understand much, and I had concerns that seem so silly now, but until you are living that situation, you just don't know. To many, open adoption is odd, scary, and threatening--and I can understand those feelings, I had those! What I didn't know at that time was how incredible it can be and why those families experiencing open adoptions were so excited about them. With that being said, I still feel so strongly that each adoption is SO different and each situation needs to be analyzed carefully so that it is best for all parties involved. I feel lucky and blessed that Paige's birthmother is an angel.  She has become family and I love her dearly. I feel like I got two for the price of one and I am so grateful that I have a best friend that cares so much for Paige.

Olivia came up on Friday to share her birthday with our little family. I loved watching her light up at little smiles, kissing cute neck rolls, and relishing in every moment. She and I share a mother's love with the same little girl. There is something special knowing she understands how I feel in such a unique way. As mothers, we are always so biased when it comes to our children, it is kind of fun knowing I am not alone in my biased opinions--she shares every single one of them! I was overwhelmed by the feeling that our Heavenly Father knows each of us so well, and He recognizes how much we needed her, and how much she needed us. Now, we get to share in this overwhelming joy together. It is the opposite of threatening and awkward, rather the most comforting feeling ever, knowing that things are as they should be. She is excited to see our little family as a family and knowing she approves and supports us helps me to know that I am doing what I can to give back to her.

 

This picture melts my heart. I have so much love for everyone in this picture!

Mark wanted to make sure I clarified my last post. He is very good at changing diapers, wet ones. He has always been willing to change a wet bum. On Friday, he caved under peer pressure and decided it was his moment to prove to the world he could also do poop.

 

 

He honestly got one of the worst poopy bums I ever did see. Trial by fire. But, now he knows he can conquer them all! Paige smiled through the whole thing.

Yesterday was such a special day for us. Paige has felt like ours from the beginning, but there is some weight that is lifted when it becomes legal. Hard to explain, I never felt like it was because something would "happen," but I guess it is just nice to know that you can take her on a trip, or get a kitten, or whatever without notifying the agency.  I don't know why I was surprised by this, but court is really official. I guess you hear so much about the happiness and what not, that we were a little surprised by the seriousness of it all. It is good, I am glad court is official and serious, I guess I just didn't know what to except. I got a little teary eyed when I finally heard the judge give his ruling and pronounce that our baby would now legally be known as Paige Ryann S______ and we would be legally responsible for her well being. It was nice to share it with our families and it was nice having our lawyers be not only amazing, but really good friends. Thank you D________ for being incredible. 

It is always so interesting that sweet baby Paige is an angel unless something important is happening. She rarely spits up and on this occasion, she hadn't even gone poop since Saturday. She pretty much projectile vomited on our way out the door, making us late, and then she got to work messing her shorts as soon as the judge started to talk.  Great timing. She was pretty fussy the whole time and she smelled amazingly bad. By the time we got to the picture taking, she was ticked. I was able to console with a bottle that pretty much makes an appearance in all these photos despite my ridiculous attempts to hide it. I have crazy eyes thanks to the crying and my hair has been ignored since Paige came into my life, but I still love these:

 

Her cute court outfit. Love the tights that don't fit yet.

 

Getting excited to go to court

 

Hopefully the last time she has to see the judge or she has a few families that will be wanting to send her to wilderness camp;)

 

Her happy, stinky self. Still cute though. Mark and I are blessed with an amazing support group. How cute is my little brother by the way?

 

My good friend Steve who helped us out so much. He and his dad are great! So weird that we are grown ups now. I have a baby, Steve is a lawyer. Where does time go? It doesn't seem that long ago that we were playing night games in Steve's backyard or that Mark and Steve were playing high school baseball. I love that my head tilts to the side in all these pictures. Must be the baby I always hold on the left side. It must be causing a left side droop!