Post Finalization Pics

The day after we finalized Alex's adoption we went to a fabulous photography studio to enter him into a photo contest and get some really good individual and family post-finalization shots. He did not win the contest, but we all had so much fun during the shoot. We really felt like we got the star treatment. And Alex was quite the ham!

The studio was nice enough to email us some of the pics to post here so all our friends and family can see.

Just look at those cute baby fingers and toes!


Here's our angel baby shot.


Silly, random cowboy pic.


Jay didn't like any of the ones of him and Alex but we both liked this one of me and Alex. Look at how he is touching my hand. He melts my heart!


And finally...our favorite family shot. We will treasure this photo forever since to us it will always symbolize us officially becoming a forever family!

Oh Happy Day!

I looked up the word "finalization" online in order to find a proper definition. Here's what I found:

1. to put into final form; complete all the details of.

2. to complete an agreement; conclude negotiations

Hmm. So finalization means to make something "final". Interesting. I thought you're not suppose to use the actual word in the definition. OK so what is the definition of final then?

1. something that comes at or forms the end

2. that which forms an end or termination

3. pertaining to or expressing the end or purpose

OK, so when you think of something that is final, you think of something that has come to an end, is terminated, concluded or completed. Those words DO NOT describe today at all.


Today we finalized AJ's adoption. Yes, by doing that any worry about losing him has ended. The process of adopting him is completed. And any birthparents' rights are forever terminated. But we do not see AJ's finalization day as an end. It is so much more a beginning. It's a day to celebrate.

Here are the Judges present today.


Today AJ has officially become our son - in every way possible. We can get his birth certificate, SSN and passport. We can claim him for the adoption credit. We do not have to worry about anyone changing their minds and trying to take him away from us. He is ours.

But didn't we already know that? We were sure that he was our son since we first saw his picture. Some switch came on, like our hearts recognized him as ours. K even told us that he was always intended for us. So today just re-confirmed what we have always known - he is our son. We are his parents. This is our family.

The Judges said this was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, family present for a finalization they've seen. We hardly all fit into the courtroom.


So yes, today is a HAPPY DAY for us! It's a day to celebrate. And we did. And we both breathed a sigh of relief. And then we kissed our son and welcomed him home - again.

Forever and Ever - AMEN!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow......

you're only a day away!!!!

Recognize those lyrics anyone? It's from "Annie". I loved that growing up and today I am singing "Tomorrow" because tomorrow is a BIG day for our family. Stay tuned....

First there's today. And today ain't so bad either ;-)

Alex turned 10 months old today. He is getting so big and doing lots more stuff, including FINALLY cutting a tooth. Although the timing on that couldn't be worse cuz now he's all congested, his nose is red, his eyes are runny and he's obviously uncomfy. But he's a trooper.

He still hasn't really crawled, but we are not concerned. He gets around one way or another. And he's pulling himself up and LOVES to stand. He may just skip the whole crawling business and walk soon!

Here's a pic of Alex being silly today trying to chew on the string on his pants. Silly boy!

My 1st Mother's Day

Mother's Days used to make me so sad. It was the most blatent reminder of what I wanted to be more than anything, and what I wasn't yet a part of. That was before Alex.

Now that I have Alex just the thought of Mother's Day approaching brought a smile to my face and I could actually feel the joy in my heart.

So here it is. Today is my 1st Mother's Day.

I woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking and Jay carrying Alex into our room. First I got to snuggle with Alex and give good morning kisses. Then Jay brought me breakfast in bed.

I know this may sound silly but my vision of Mother's Day has always been breakfast in bed. Before today I have never had breakfast in bed. We didn't even own one of those server trays. I know I had mentioned this to Jay in the past, about how I dream of the day when I can have breakfast in bed with my kids. And he remembered. He served me his famous grand slam breakfast - french toast, eggs, sausage and OJ. And on the tray was a vase with some lilacs. There were also cards - one from Jay and one from Alex. And a present. The cards were perfect and beautiful and as I read them, tears starting rolling down my cheeks. Then I opened my present. It is a picture frame - one side has a sketched picture of me and Alex when he was just a couple weeks old. The other side of the frame is a poem that Jay wrote for me.


Isn't that the sweetest most perfect thing ever!

Today I feel so blessed, so fortunate, so grateful, so happy and full of love. Today I get to celebrate Mother's Day because I am a Mommy.

As I enjoyed my breakfast in bed experience, I had to laugh. I told Jay how I can't help but look forward to the Mother's Days ahead when Alex can "make" breakfast himself for me and I'll end up eating a cookie and corn in a bowl or something like that! That makes me smile. But today I will enjoy my almost 10 month old, the tooth I can feel starting to FINALLY poke through and the beautiful family we have.

Thank you K for making this day possible for me!

"Happy" Birthmother's Day

I learned something this year that I never knew before. I learned that the Saturday before Mother's Day is Birthmother's Day. It is not a holiday the general public knows about. And Hallmark doesn't make a card for it (believe me, I looked!) But it is a day created by a group of birthmothers in 1990 as a way to educate others and more importantly to honor and remember the choices they had made. It is a day that our family will forever choose to recognize, as well.

But why the need to recognize Birthmother's Day?

I think it's two-fold. First, I think Birthmother's Day is a way for all Birthmothers to bond together and know that they are not alone. It's an opportunity, at least for this day, to feel as though others really understand the journey they have gone through, the sacrifices they have made, the joy they have given forever families, and the sense of loss and saddness they feel.

Secondly, I think Birthmother's Day is an opportunity for us Forever Families to honor the woman who not only gave our children life, but who also gave us the gift of that life.

We think of K often and pray for her happiness and health. We thank God every single day for bringing her into our lives, and for her chosing us as Alex's Forever Family. We will teach Alex about the important role she played in his life, in all of ours lives. And she will always hold a very special place in our hearts. She is part of our family. And it is because of her that we are a family.

Thank you K and "Happy" Birthmother's Day! We love you.