It's Official!

(backing up in time here a bit to capture some big and fun times!)

Yep--after five home visits, six sets of fingerprints sent off to the FBI, hours and hours of photo collage-making (and the 12 arguments that ensued), four interviews by three different social workers asking what parenting theories we might use to discipline our child and if we intend to introduce said child to religion,  one major heartbreak, countless phone conversations with our adoption attorney, one hugely major awesome birthday spent (mine) in the labor and delivery room watching our child be born, a stressful and illegal OR/WA border crossing with an undocumented infant, and a grand total of a 2 3/4 year wait for the Baby of My Dreams, Reed is finally, officially, and undoubtedly OURS!!!!!

Of course he has felt like our child since we have had him in our home, but in the back of my mind, it seemed like it would not really really really be true until the courts signed off.  (I don't even really know what signing off entails...i just know that it was another necessary step.)  Our attorney gave us two possible court dates for our finalization--one of them being my Dad's birthday.  Naturally, I chose that one--December 19th.  And how awesome is it that my dad made the trip up to be with us that day.  I love that he did this.  I also love that our nearest and dearest were there too.  I know Karen's family would have been there if they had any notice and if there was not another baby being born into the world and if it were not the height of the holiday season.  :)  They were all with us in spirit, for sure.

We all were a little edgy as we waited to be called into the court room.

 This is our clan--including our good friend Kelly, who was kind enough to document the occasion!

The whole process only took about 11 minutes, and 10 of those were spent taking pictures.

The green sweater and green tie were not planned.  In fact, Karen hated that I put him in the tie.  I thought he totally rocked it.

I guess my dad is still a little edgy here.  These four people could have broken it for us, but they all said they were in FAVOR!!

Yes, I am about to start balling here.

Our judge.

The judge and the attorney must have called eachother that morning--they both were wearing holiday ties.

Cory ALWAYS remembers the flowers.  :-)

Kelly!!!!!!

We then went across the street to a fancy restaurant where Sara bought us all lunch.  So sweet, so yummy.

And Dad shared his Birthday Dessert.

Reed really wanted that first bite.  But remember--no sweets until he is five years old.

We feel so, so lucky.  He is a dream baby.  Not so baby-ish anymore--he is now a dream little boy.  There's no turning back now!!

YaHooooo!!