Adoption Day - 100% all ours

It's been an emotional day, as we went to court to have our adoption petition approved.  I am proud to say that it was granted and now little un is 100% legally ours, and one of the family forever and ever and ever... 

She's been emotionally ours for some time now,  but it's a huge relief to have the adoption completed...It's like taking the L plates off the car,  exhilarating and freeing, you can go where you like and no one's checking or advising us anymore (unless we ask for support-  possibly the equivalent of advanced driving lessons) 

The day itself was a bit strange...  a 6 am start to get all of us up and dressed (smartly and formally) through the rush hour traffic, parked in town and into court in good time for the hearing...  The court building is pretty intimidating and the hearing was running late, although there was no one around to explain this, which meant we had a wobbly moment when we thought we had been sent to the wrong court and might have missed our hearing altogether...   But finally we were called... and the Sheriff was lovely... it was over and done with in about five minutes... she did her best to put us at ease and I think she really enjoyed giving her approval, as she had been involved in little un's case previously so was pleased to see a happy outcome to the process... She then let Little un have a spin in her 'big chair'  and asked security to bring up our camera so that we could take a family picture in the court room for little un's life story book... so we were really lucky to get a sheriff who was sensitive to the adoption process.

After this we met up with a few friends for a cuppa and then a quick mooch in the museum before heading home for lunch... Little un fell asleep in the car as she was so shattered... we then spent the rest of the day pottering at home, where little un had great fun opening her present and card (shown above)  from 'Aunty Heather and Uncle Paul' 

So this evening I've had a little celebratory glass of prosecco and I'm now trying to gather my thoughts, feelings and memories whilst they're fresh in my mind...  read on if you like and if you're interested,  but I won't be offended if you don't want to.

Adoption is hardwork but brilliant... It's not for everyone, but it was right for us... I don't believe in all that fate nonsense, but little un is so perfect for us and our family, that I can't imagine what would have happened if we'd managed to have kids in the regular way...it really does feel as though we were meant to find each other.  

Adoption is also a long process... it takes time and a variety of experience  to come to the decision to adopt in the first place and then it's taken us  just over three years from first application to the final legal approval.  But on the way we've learnt a lot,  we've met brilliant people,  we've had huge support, we've made friends and we've now got a different perspective on the world. 

We don't know what's around the corner,  or if there will be issues in the years to come as we help little un reconcile all the parts of herself and aspects of her life,  but we can honestly say that today is a very happy day for us.