Yesterday was a day that we have been waiting for, for a little over 6 months. Our adoption with Gerrit was finalized. We decided to make a day out of it and went to one of our favorite places to eat, La Ferrovia. I should have thought better than to eat pasta before we went since it is so messy and my kids are not clean eaters, but my stomache overruled.
After that we went to court to meet our attorney, Kenlon Reeve. When we walked in, the security guards at the door asked us if we were there for an adoption. We said, "yes, how did you know?" They said that they are the only ones that walk through those doors with smiles on their faces with their family in tow. Of course, we had a baby too, which probably tipped them off. We've been in court for a couple of adoption matters and never before have we had an audience. Well, this time we did. There was roughly 20 people in there as we went in front of Judge Parley Baldwin. He put Blake and I under oath and our attorney asked us some questions. I instantly turned into mush and pretty much cried the whole way through. Then he turned to Kaymin and asked her to speak for the kids if she wanted Luke to be her brother. She gave him a weird look and then he realized that that is the name he was given at birth and we call him Gerrit. Once he asked her if she wanted Gerrit to be her brother forever, she was all smiles and said, "yes", but you could tell she was so nervous. Once our adoption decree was granted the judge let us take a picture with him and our attorney as long as he could hold Gerrit.
After court we had about 30 minutes to kill before we went to the Ogden Temple to have him sealed to our family. We decided to go to Farr's Ice Cream. I mean honestly, how many eating disasters can I cause in one day. Deilen wanted brown ice cream, of course. For whatever reason he began sucking on the sleeve of his white shirt. Well, there went that shirt. It is now covered in chocolate ice cream. Once we arrived at the temple we were greeted by about 6 workers that worked in the child care center, an escort for Blake and I, and the recommend guys. We left the kids and went to go get dressed. Once they brought the kids in and they were dressed all in white, I lost it. I cried because they were so beautiful. Deilen said, "mom, look I got new white socks and a tie!" He was so excited. The girls each picked out their white dress with matching bows. Gerrit had no idea what was going on, but he liked the lights. The sealing was wonderful and couldn't have been better. We decided to take a couple of pictures after and it was freezing cold and windy as all get out. So we snapped a few and called it good. I was bummed they no longer allow you to take the white kids' clothes outside for pictures. I totally understand, but I was sad nonetheless. I just can't believe the time is here. Six months have gone by so fast. My baby is growing up. We got home around 5pm and I decided I had better catch a couple of ZZZZ's before I went to the midnight showing of Twilight. I slept for 3 hours and then met up with my mother-in-law and my sister-in-laws at 9:30pm for a late night dinner at Chilis. Oh, the movie was great and I LOVED it (I am a Twilight fan, not those that dress up, but one in secret). The best part is, I stayed awake the whole time. I got home and into bed at 3am only to get up at 4:45am to work. Oh well, it was so worth it. Thanks family for all of your support and love today. It meant the world to us!!!
Yesterday was a day that we have been waiting for, for a little over 6 months. Our adoption with Gerrit was finalized. We decided to make a day out of it and went to one of our favorite places to eat, La Ferrovia. I should have thought better than to eat pasta before we went since it is so messy and my kids are not clean eaters, but my stomache overruled.
After that we went to court to meet our attorney, Kenlon Reeve. When we walked in, the security guards at the door asked us if we were there for an adoption. We said, "yes, how did you know?" They said that they are the only ones that walk through those doors with smiles on their faces with their family in tow. Of course, we had a baby too, which probably tipped them off. We've been in court for a couple of adoption matters and never before have we had an audience. Well, this time we did. There was roughly 20 people in there as we went in front of Judge Parley Baldwin. He put Blake and I under oath and our attorney asked us some questions. I instantly turned into mush and pretty much cried the whole way through. Then he turned to Kaymin and asked her to speak for the kids if she wanted Luke to be her brother. She gave him a weird look and then he realized that that is the name he was given at birth and we call him Gerrit. Once he asked her if she wanted Gerrit to be her brother forever, she was all smiles and said, "yes", but you could tell she was so nervous. Once our adoption decree was granted the judge let us take a picture with him and our attorney as long as he could hold Gerrit.
After court we had about 30 minutes to kill before we went to the Ogden Temple to have him sealed to our family. We decided to go to Farr's Ice Cream. I mean honestly, how many eating disasters can I cause in one day. Deilen wanted brown ice cream, of course. For whatever reason he began sucking on the sleeve of his white shirt. Well, there went that shirt. It is now covered in chocolate ice cream. Once we arrived at the temple we were greeted by about 6 workers that worked in the child care center, an escort for Blake and I, and the recommend guys. We left the kids and went to go get dressed. Once they brought the kids in and they were dressed all in white, I lost it. I cried because they were so beautiful. Deilen said, "mom, look I got new white socks and a tie!" He was so excited. The girls each picked out their white dress with matching bows. Gerrit had no idea what was going on, but he liked the lights. The sealing was wonderful and couldn't have been better. We decided to take a couple of pictures after and it was freezing cold and windy as all get out. So we snapped a few and called it good. I was bummed they no longer allow you to take the white kids' clothes outside for pictures. I totally understand, but I was sad nonetheless. I just can't believe the time is here. Six months have gone by so fast. My baby is growing up. We got home around 5pm and I decided I had better catch a couple of ZZZZ's before I went to the midnight showing of Twilight. I slept for 3 hours and then met up with my mother-in-law and my sister-in-laws at 9:30pm for a late night dinner at Chilis. Oh, the movie was great and I LOVED it (I am a Twilight fan, not those that dress up, but one in secret). The best part is, I stayed awake the whole time. I got home and into bed at 3am only to get up at 4:45am to work. Oh well, it was so worth it. Thanks family for all of your support and love today. It meant the world to us!!!
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5 comments:
Congrats!! Don't you love being able to be an adoptive mother. There really is nothing sweeter than experiencing that sweet sealing.
Oh Heidi Congratulations!! I am so happy and know how wonderful the feling is to have your kids in there with you, all in there white clothes, they look like angels! I am going to Twilight tomorrow afternoon. I don't wear Twighlight shirts either but did like the books. I can't believe you got 2 hrs of sleep though. You are crazy!!
Congratulations! That's so exciting.
All finalized, how awesome! I hope the next 6 months go by fast for me! The sealing sounded so neat! I can't wait for our turn now. Thank you for sharing.
Heidi- we need to talk!! and YES twilight is even better the 2nd time! When we get back from Cali I'm calling you and we are going out! Love ya, Jill
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