A Letter to My Second Daughter on Her Adoption Day

Chloe,
In the middle of May 2017 we heard from your first mom that she was pregnant. She loved you from the beginning and was so excited you were coming. We saw her that October when she was very pregnant with you. At that time she thought you were a boy and you would be born in January in Alabama. The next time we heard about you, you were born- a girl, in December, in Georgia! You made your entrance into the world in a hurry and in a scary situation. You’ve been a strong, brave girl from the beginning.

Your Aunt Kristina let us know you were born and that your first mom wasn’t able to take you home from the hospital. She called the right people who called us and we were able to bring you home from the hospital when you were ten days old.

When you came home, you were our fifth kid all under 5! It was a bit crazy but you fit right in. A couple of months later your first mom decided she wanted you to be with us forever and grow up with Sam. This was a hard choice for her, but one she made because she loved you so much.

She was so glad for you be with your sister. We are too. Your Bubbie and I didn’t have biological sisters, but we can imagine how great it will be to grow up with one. We consider all of our kids to be siblings while they’re in our home, but your connection to Sam is different and that’s something we’re grateful for.

Your adoption today feels different for us. Unlike Sam’s, we’ve known you would be our forever daughter for many months (2 years!) before the adoption - almost from the beginning. And unlike Kingston’s we didn’t have to convince anyone we were the best family for you.  This one was expected but no less anticipated. Even though we’ve thought this is what would happen, we are never surprised by DFCS and know anything can happen. We are thrilled you’ve been adopted quicker than your brother and sister even though it’s taken longer than it had to.

Your adoption is also different because it happened differently. Today we all squished together on our couch and watched Mr. Tom and Judge Gottfried say the words that make you our official daughter. We raised our right hands and promised to love you and take care of you forever. Lots of people who love you, from all over the place also got to sign in and see it happen too. It was different than going to the courthouse, but no less official or special. Lots of people were able to join who may not have been able to if it had happened the traditional way.

Today your middle name changed to Grace. This is what you have been to our family - a gift from God we could have never expected or deserve. Grace joins Joy and Heart as the gifts our children have been to us and our village and the world. You are a delight. You’re curious and expressive and very funny. From the beginning you’ve been your Bubbie’s girl and you still usually prefer her, telling me “Bubbie doot (do it)” no less than 15 times a day. You have had some challenges (and more hospital stays than most two-year olds) but you are still brave and tough and a little scrappy - determined to make your way in this world. Those are characteristics that will serve you well your whole life - if you let them.

I’m grateful to live in the world with you in it and I’m so grateful I get to be your Mama. We've loved you from the moment we met you. Now our names match our hearts. You are our daughter - an Olive-Allison for ever and ever. There are only five Olive-Allisons in the world. I can't wait to see what the years ahead have for our family - with you in it!

Love you, Chloe Grace!
Mama