Two years ago September 30th ~
Today we woke up knowing it was the last day to wake up with Daddy and Grandma Pam here with us. We had a rather large agenda for the day. Dorthy wanted us to stop by her apartment to meet AG's halfsister, K & her daughter J. One of the wonderful ladies from Family to Family Adoptions Inc. was there with us as a neutral person to keep things positive. While we were there Dorthy held AG, asked us some questions, allowed us to ask her some questions. We were able to get all of AG's half siblings names and birthdays...and Dorthy's 2 granddaughters names and birthdays as well. We tried to keep it as brief as possible, took a couple of pictures and were on our way.
We had talked that as long as we were that close, we would drive to Galveston Texas and see the gulf. We went to the beach and took some fun pictures, even let Ada Grace put her feet in the water! It was so much fun, starting already at 3 days old our little princess was getting compliments about how beautiful she was and still is! Those compliments have not stopped since! We were able to eat at this little local place in Galveston where Jason and Grandma had what they claim to be the 'BEST SHRIMP EVER!' They look forward to eating there again if and when we go back to Texas...and you all know that the only reason we would go there is to work with Family to Family again and add to our family through adoption.
When we returned to the apartment it wasn't long before Jason and my mom had to pack up their things and leave me stranded there with my new baby. I did my best to send home what I wouldn't need so when Ada Grace and I flew back in about a week I wouldn't have too much stuff to worry about. It was rather emotional saying goodbye to my husband. Here is something that we had prayed for for so long, and he was having to return home to work. I have to say, it wasn't AS hard hugging my mother good -bye, although there were plenty of times through the next 6 days that it would have been GREAT to have her there! But something about becoming parents and having to send one away just didn't seem right. The only thing that kept me knowing that things would be okay was the fact that they wonderful ladies at Family to Family promised that if I needed anything at all to give them a call and they would be more than happy to help me out!
After Jason and my mother left, I cried for a little while...but ultimately I just held my baby girl and could not believe that I was finally a Mommy! I decided it was time to give her the first sponge bath. I also had to do a little laundry, but otherwise it was just bonding time.
Two years ago October 1st ~
What a crazy/wonderful day! While it is in my nature to be in church every time the doors are open, I have to admit that we didn't go to church this Sunday. My husband and mother were still driving home and I didn't really have any idea where a church was, let alone being able to get there! Instead, Ada Grace and I just spent more time forming the bond as mother and daughter. We walked and bounced alot because she had troubles (still does!) have dirty diapers...but what a wonderful day it was. I was a Mommy!
Two years ago October 2nd ~
How amazing! Waking up to hearing a newborn baby crying, wait...that newborn is MY baby! I remembered back to hearing mothers in the past complaining about how their 2 month old wasn't sleeping through the night and they were having to get up and rock and feed their little ones...I remember holding back tears on numbers of occasions thinking, "if only I had a baby to rock and feed in the middle of the night!" Well, because of adoption...I now had that very precious baby! And I really didn't think the midnight feedings were all that bad. I jumped at every opportunity to have her awake to cuddle and snuggle. To the point that there were times I just thought about waking her up so I could see her beautiful eyes, hear her cry, and know that it wasn't a dream!
Two years ago October 4th ~
The day we were originally told that Ada Grace was going to be born, and she is already a week old! Where does time go?!? Since she was already a week old we had to go the doctor for a check up. One of the wonderful ladies at Family to Family adoptions, Inc agreed to drive us there. The doctor said that you were very healthy and had no concerns at all! We were brought back to the apartment to spend the rest of the day together! We also had to start thinking about packing our things up, as we would be flying home on the 6th.
Two years ago October 5th ~
Once again the wonderful ladies at Family to Family came through for us...Dorthy had requested that she have one final visit with Ada Grace before we flew home. I, of course, didn't want to go alone...so one of the fam2fam ladies came with us, if I remember correctly it was the founder of Family to Family, Maxine. It was a short visit, Dorthy took pictures and said good bye. After the visit was over, we went back to the apartment...Maxine came in and just checked up on us. Made sure things were going well and that we were all set. I thanked her for helping to grow our family! We spent the rest of the day packing and getting ready to go home!
Two years ago October 6th ~
Jennifer from Family to Family Adoptions, Inc picked us up to drive us to the airport in Houston. What a wonderful time we had with all of those ladies! Maxine, Debbie, Jennifer, Belinda, and Pat...they took such good care of us, and of Dorthy. I cannot imagine an adoption going any smoother that ours did! When we arrived at the airport Jennifer helped us in as far as she could go...it was so nice to have help with the luggage! We boarded our plane and had a great trip. Our first leg of our flight we sat next to a wonderful lady who had lots of helpful advise about how to take care of Ada Grace's skin and hair. We had a layover in Salt Lake City, and they it was a short 45 minute flight home. Upon arriving at the airport we were welcomed by a large group of people...some that I had not even met before! It was such a blessing! Our pastor and wife, our 'adopted' west river Grandparents, some wonderful friends and 9 of their 11 (at the time, now 12) children, a friend that I had only met on the phone, DADDY, and surprise! Grandma Pam! Our friend had made little pink frosted cookies, there were balloons and signs all over the place. How was I not suppose to cry? What a welcome home it was! I still remember that day as if it were yesterday...crystal clear!
This journey is definitely not over, but the most exciting part it. I just want to take this chance to publicly thank Maxine and the other ladies at Family to Family Adoptions Inc. for the wonderful treatment they gave to us in this very exciting time of our life. I remember telling my husband that the name of the agency really fits, you very much feel as if they are family and are helping our family! It has been fun over the last two years to be in contact via email and phone with the ladies that played a big part in growing our family! We pray even now that the Lord would allow the funds to come in so that we could work with Family to Family again and add to our wonderful little crew of Jason, Ashley, Ada Grace, and Ethan.
If anyone is considering adoption, I would highly recommend them to at least call Family to Family. This is their website...you can find their contact information there!
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I have decided that my "Thankful Thursday" post should be about our adoption agency: Family to Family Adoptions, Inc. So as not to ramble on and on, when we started the process we had signed a contract with a different agency & they falsely matched us 26 times and took around $10,000 of our money.
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