Happy Adoption Day M, B & Little A!!!!!!!

At 9:30am on Wednesday, May 11th 2011, we became a "family."  We were a family the moment we met our children (actually, more like the moment we saw their first pictures); however, now the State of Massachusetts recognizes that Doug and I are their parents.  They are finally U.S. Citizens, and can obtain social security numbers so we can open up bank accounts for them!  Yay!  It seems like a never-ending process, as we still have to apply for their Certificate of Citizenship, SS #s and Passports for each of them.  Ah yi yi...Good thing I have nothing else to do right now [sarcasm].  I can't imagine the day when I can finally start to relax a little. 

The very *best* part of this day was that Little A was re-adopted by her family with M & B.  I mean, how cool is that?  It took some coordination (thank you Middlesex County, Massachusetts), some luck, and a wonderful judge to make it happen for us.  It was a first for our judge too.  Two families, joined by biologic siblings.  So incredible!   I still pinch myself when I think about what an amazing story we are able to share with our friends and family.

Speaking of family, my brother, his wife and 5 month old son made the trek up Route 3 to be in Cambridge for 9am.  My parents also joined in the festivities.  It felt so nice to be surrounded by people we love, and the family our children have grown to love so, so much. 

I know "naming" is a common topic of discussion in International Adoption.  Its such a personal choice, to decide whether to keep a birth name, use their given name as a middle name, or change it all together.   I know that you won't be surprised when I tell you that we are keeping their birth names as their first names.  And, I did something that I never thought I would do (this wouldn't be the first thing I never thought I would do as a parent :) )...we gave them 2 middle names.  Here's my thinking....I kept my maiden name, so my children will have my husband's last name.  I wanted them to have a "piece" of me too.  Therefore, M has my great-grandfather's first name as middle name #1, and his birth father's first name as middle name #2.  B has her birth mother's first name as middle name #1, and my name (Amy) as middle name #2.  I hope, growing up, they won't mind that they each have two legal middle names.

Oh, and their ages.  The courts approved my "appeal" to change both of their ages.  In the submission to the courts, I included a letter from their IA doctor, Pediatrician, each of their school teachers, and their Pediatric Dentist.  I also threw in a picture that we took of them standing in front of our white door, with Mommy's homemade, duck-tape foot markers, so that they could see just how tall our 5.5 and 4 year old children are.  M is now turning 8 in September, and B is 5.  It was done with careful consideration, and we hope that it will give them some time to catch-up, but not be too much older than their peers.

I wanted to include some pictures from their Happy Adoption Day (which may have been even more happy for Mommy and Daddy)! 

M's turn (B was first)