Adoption Day



Ethan, Allen and Me with the Judge.
(sorry for the quality)

It official!  I am a Mommy...a real mommy, a LEGAL mommy.  It feels all the same, there is just paperwork to back it up now.  The morning started at 6:30.  We had to be downtown by 8:15 so we wanted to have enough time to get all our families ready and together.  Once we arrived at the courthouse Allen and I had the last minute paperwork to sign and then we were just waiting on the Judge to call us back.  Nerves were going crazy at this point, the waiting game is not a game I excel at. We had wonderful representation on both sides of our family.  Allen's mom and dad and his niece came, and my Mom and Grandparents made the trip from NC to witness this joyous day.  As far as emotions are concerned I have been crying since yesterday!  Something about my family being here and the finalization of today has kept me weepy.  I didn't feel out of place because my Ma (that's my gma)  cried right along with me.  The judge was amazing!  So genuine, nice, and kind.  A sweet sweet man.  He was very quick and we were only in his chambers 10 minutes or so.  We then had to get pictures with every possible combination of family members imaginable.  Then it was all over!  We will receive his new birth certificate in 6 months, but as of today at 9:30 we have the same rights as any birth parents have.  I can't tell you how amazing that is.  I adore foster parenting, but sometimes it feels like parenting at an arms length.  You can do this, but don't do that, this is OK, but not that!  So to be able to parent him like REAL parents is an amazing feeling.  I must add it does scare me, I don't have handy caseworkers at my fingertips to walk me through the hairy parts.  I feel overwhelmingly blessed at the outpouring of love and well wishes from so many people.  I cry every time we receive a phone call, text, or FB notification.  We are blessed, loved and highly favored.  I'm a mommy, and it is wonderful!