2 BIG days!

Dear S,

We’ve had a BIG two days.

Yesterday marked the end of your bio father's period where he could change his mind about surrendering his rights. No one expected him to change his mind. But I did breathe a small sigh of relief when the end of the business day got there. He decided 10 days ago that he really wanted to make your adoption happen as quickly and as smoothly as possible and went and told the people at DFCS. You should know that he cried about it. He cried and cried. He also called you to hear your voice on the phone. You talked to him for a minute and told him about your day at school. When you told him “bye” he cried some more. He loves you, Sweets, and he really wants what is best for you.

We saw your entire first family last night. We met them at a park to celebrate your birthday. Your first mom, Gigi, and bio father were there. Each of your first grandmas was there. Your Aunt K was there with some of your cousins. And some of your half-siblings were there.

There was cake and sausages and lots of presents. You let everyone play with you as you ran and stayed on the swings forever. You even went down the tallest slide with no fear. Your bio dad hasn’t seen you since you were 10 months old. He couldn’t  believe how beautiful and smart and brave you are. He told me over and over and over that he appreciates us taking care of you and knows you’re in the right place. He might be moving soon to be near some of his other children but he wants to always hear from you and be able to watch you grow up. We’ve told him this is ok as long as he is a safe and stable person for you. He knows you don’t need any drama.

Your first mom was happy to see you too. She says you’ve gotten more beautiful since we saw her in January.

A lot of people don’t understand why we spent two hours in the park last night with people who seem to be really different than us. We spent that time together because we love you. Your Bubbie and I don’t want to ever be dishonest about where you came from or how you came to us. We know you will have questions and we promise and answer them as honestly as we can – even if that means the answer is “I don’t know.” Right now we tell you that the people we met in the park are a part of your family. We know this explanation won’t be enough for you in the years to come, but we’re ready to answer the questions when you’re ready to ask them. There are lots of kinds of families and lots of kinds of love. We can’t have too much of either.

If yesterday was a big day, today is even bigger! This afternoon Bubbie and I met some important people at the DFCS office and signed some important papers. The papers said that we are agreeing to adopt you and that DFCS wants us to adopt you. We’ll take these papers to our lawyer tomorrow who will take them to a judge. Then a judge will call us to meet him and we will go and he will make it official. You will be completely and officially ours.

In your little heart and mind right how you don’t know anything except being ours and I am thankful for that. But as you get older we will tell you the stories of these days. Stories about your first family. Stories about case workers and lawyers. Stories about signing our names on LOTS of papers. Stories about taking a selfie in the elevator with a simple black binder that holds all kinds of official information. Stories about how we’ve waited and prayed and wanted this day to happen for so long. Stories about how all of this makes you officially our kid.

Its been a wild ride kid. A wild 901 days. I’ve been your Mama for a while now according to everyone who really matters but I can’t wait to take you to the court house and hear a judge tell us its official!

Love,

Mama