Look at This! :)

I've been nominated for an award! I'm so honored, and flattered that anyone likes reading this stuff enough to nominate me. :) Seriously, this makes my day! Please go vote for me!




*edited to add* WOW! Vote here too! :)

This has been such a rough month...

Remember when I first posted about the adoption finalization, when I said I had bad news too but that I'd get to that later?

Well, my bad news was that my Granddad had passed away the Monday before the finalization. The funeral was just the day before we went to court for the biggest day of our lives. I've been quietly dealing with my sadness on my own for the most part...of course with hubby's support.

Today it's going to be my turn to be HIS support.

Just about half an hour ago I got a call from my sister-in-law. Then I had to call him on his work phone and tell him that he needed to come home. He made me tell him why...I just had to tell my husband that his Dad had died!!!

Dammit...Other than the adoption and Meghan's birthday, this month is SO totally sucking!

I'm going to go try not to have a nervous breakdown now...

Help Me Win $1000!!! *Sticky Post*

*SCROLL DOWN FOR CURRENT POSTS!*

I entered a "Cutest Kid" photo contest at Shutterfly. The Grand Prize is $1000, and goodness knows I could use it! I need y'all to help me out and please stop by real quick and give my picture a vote! Pretty please?? You can go cast your vote HERE. I really, really appreciate it! :) This should give me something to focus on while I get through the next week!

This is the picture:

Happy Birthday Meghan!!!

Dear sweet Meghan,

My baby girl...you are 2 years old today! I can't believe it, it just doesn't seem possible you are already 2! You were just 3 weeks old when Daddy and I brought you home from the hospital, and so tiny! Seems like just yesterday, yet so long ago.

We've been on quite a journey together the last 2 years, as Daddy and I worked hard to adopt you and big sister Destiny and give you both a forever home. Our dream finally came true just a week ago today when your adoption was finalized. You've been "mine" in my heart from the first moment I held you in my arms...now you are truly MINE forever, and I love you SO much!

You've changed so much since your last birthday. You have teeth now! Your first ones didn't come in until you were 11 months old, and you have almost all of them now. Unfortunately, you tend to bite your sister now and then...we're working hard to teach you that it hurts her when you do that, and I'm glad it's not an all the time thing. Destiny uses that against you too...one day she actually bit HERSELF and tried to come tell us that you did it! We knew better, though, because you don't have all your teeth yet and it backfired on her. She got herself into trouble instead. Normal sister stuff! I know it won't be long until you turn the tables on her, and do things to try and get HER into trouble! Oh yeah, I'm really looking forward to that! (NOT!)

You talk all the time now, though it's still in mostly your own little language. "Mama" is your most used word! That both thrills me and bums me out...since you call almost everyone "Mama" or "Mommy". LOL You've got a much bigger vocabulary than you let on...I know, 'cuz I've heard it! I'm not worried though...you'll catch on soon. I love how you'll say "Aw, man!" when you are disappointed. I love how you tilt your head to the side every time you say "Please", looking so cute and you know it! I really love hearing you say "Daddy" because I can see the joy in your Daddy's eyes when you do.

Most of all, I love YOU! You mean the world to me, and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I look forward to watching you grow up, learn, and change. Happy Birthday baby girl! I love you!
Love,
Mommy

Our Big Day

Friday, April 6, 2007 at around 9:30am we stood in front of the Judge with our girls in our arms and watched as he signed the papers declaring us their parents and completing the adoption we'd been working towards for almost two years!!!

The whole thing took less than five minutes...I dunno, I always thought it'd be a bit longer than that. At any rate, just by signing his name to the adoption papers, this wonderful Judge made a 14 year long dream come true, and made me a Mama.

No more monthly caseworker visits...no more rules and regulations...no more red tape...no more being put under the microscope! We are DONE and these two precious girls are now our DAUGHTERS. You guys have NO idea how this makes me feel!

Anyway, as promised...here are some pictures of our big day!

Destiny waiting to leave for court:


Both girls before we left the apartment:


Our newly official family and the Judge who made it so:



One of us, the Judge, and the fosters who adopted the girls' brother the same day:

We're a FAMILY!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a really quick post...I've been offline since last Thursday due to internet being cutoff. Lots of stuff happened, some bad...but I'll get into that later. :(

The point of this particular post is just to say:

THEY'RE ADOPTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Details to come...with pics! Right now I'm late for a celebration lunch with Mom and Sis! :)