Its Official!!!

At 2:40 this afternoon, a judge signed the Adoption Order that made Adelyn our daughter legally, officially now and forever!! We are officially a family of FIVE!!

It was a beautiful ceremony at our county courthouse. Our pastor, aunt, uncle, cousins (from Georgia), sister-in-law, nephews, grandma and grandpa all came to witness this important day. The boys, Daddy, Adelyn and myself got to sit up in the front right before the judges desk and our social worker sat next to us. The judge was very personable and told us how much he enjoys these adoption hearings and seeing the smiles on the parents and relatives faces. He said that he had read over all of our files and we seemed like a wonderful family. He even quoted a few lines from our homestudy. He also said over and over how beautiful she was.

Then he explained what each part of the Adoption Order meant. He explained that Adelyn would no longer be a ward of the courts/adoption agency, but that from this day forward she would have a real family with real brothers and a real Mom and Dad just as if we had given birth to her. That she would be ours forever and that no one could change that. When he finally read the decree, I had tears running down my face. We all hugged and then got pictures. The judge was so wonderful and let us take pictures anywhere in the courtroom- even in his chair. It was a wonderful ceremony.

I know that Adelyn was born in our hearts and she was our daughter the first moment we set eyes on her. But its nice to know that legally, nothing can change that. We are now a forever family of five. Happy Adoption Day sweet pea!