Yesterday we celebrated the legalization of our adoption of Jon and Nick. What a day! Family and friends drove up from Chatham to join us in court as a tear filled judge officiated, happy to celebrate a joyous event in Family Court.
She spoke if how much it pleased her to sign these forms and make the change that happened over a year ago in our heart legal. Emotion choked her up. As her voice caught in her throat my tears fell.
She read Jon’s birth name and legally changed it to Jonathan David Ray Weeks. She read Nick’s birth name and legally changed it to Nicholas Kevin Weeks. I cried some more.
Our group of 17 filled the small court room and celebrated the short (very short!) ceremony with hugs, tears, and pictures.
I didn’t expect to feel any different because in reality, these boys joined our family a year ago. But last night, after the last guest drove away, we cuddled together on the couch and watched a Christmas cartoon. Jon snuggled in close to dad. Kate and Nick curled up with me.
It seems impossible that it was only one year ago that the boys entered our lives. So much has changed in twelve months.
We watched Kaitlyn bloom into a proud big sister as she helped two boys open themselves to love and family. I hope you all enjoy our first collection of professional photographs taken of our entire family.
For this child I have prayed and God has granted my request.
1 Samuel 1:27
What an incredible gift from God.
Kate loves her role as big sister, teacher and protector. She enjoys being in charge, organized and cuddled.
Jon spends hours building innovative Lego machines and tells elaborate tales about what the machines can do. He loves to be heard.
Nick always has a train in his hand and a car in his pocket. He’s quick to declare his love and is full of mischief. Life with him is an adventure.
Many of you may know that I contribute to a column in the local paper called Niagara Voices. I write about local events, available community resources and my take on it all. My most recent column went to print today.
I had an article all ready to go and at the last-minute scrapped it to discuss the most significant thing to happen in our lives – the adoption of our children.
Click the link to learn the facts on adoption in Canada.
We are almost at the end of Kevin’s one month parental leave. This time at home came as a pleasant surprise. We had no idea the church elders discussed the benefits of giving Kevin a month leave to bond with his new sons. What a blessing.
Over the last four weeks we have seen significant changes in our children. Both boys appear very comfortable in their new home and seem very happy. The bedtime struggles are improving. They haven’t gone away entirely; they have evolved into a more age appropriate struggle that simply comes with the territory of two young brothers sharing a room.
Dinner time is a much happier hour as well. Both boys tend to nap now making them much more pleasant during the stretch of time between 4pm and bedtime.
Kate is still thriving in her role as half big sister half little mother. She started verbalizing a slight wistfulness for the quieter days when she didn’t have to share her favorite babysitter, her parents, or a visitor’s attention. Nevertheless she firmly states she wouldn’t change anything. The boys are keepers (smile).
When Kevin returns to work next week I have one more month before I am back to work babysitting. That gives me a bit of time to find my stride without Kevin’s help during working hours.
There is still a lot to pray for concerning our family. Please remember Kaitlyn these next few weeks. Pray that she continues to love her new brothers. Please pray for us as parents. Pray that we have the time and energy to daily set aside some special time with Kate and the boys. Please pray for the boys. Please pray they continue adjusting and that they never doubt their place in our hearts.
The last two days have been incredible, tiring, trying, and wonderful all at the same time. We’ve had so many pleasant surprises and I am certain they are the result of the many prayers being offered on our behalf.
Both boys said good-bye to Foster Nanny Wednesday morning and we super excited to come with us. We stopped at the Fort Erie Wal-Mart to pick up a few things then waited at a four-way stop to hit the highway. When we turned toward the highway and away from the foster home Jon thrust his fist in the air and said, “Yeah, we’re going this way!”
Despite his excitement about moving this has been hard on him. He woke up during the night and asked where Nanny was and cried on and off for the rest of the night. His restlessness made everyone a bit more tired today moving bedtime up quite a bit this evening.
I am surprised at how fast they have found their place in our family. I can hardly remember two weeks ago when their little smiles didn’t light up when Kevin returned from work, when Jon didn’t run to me to kiss his injuries, or before Nicholas threw himself full force into our arms demanding a cuddle. I love seeing Kaitlyn grin with smile that splits her face in two over God’s answer to her prayers. She told us today at lunch she loves her new brothers.
Now for what you have all been waiting for – the pictures!
Today we signed the papers to start the legal process, which takes longer than we expected. Our case worker signs off in six months, but it will take an additional six months for everyone else involved (judges etc) to sign off and give us our date in family court.
Despite the delay in finishing the paperwork the boys are ours for keeps, and that’s what matters.
A special thank you goes out to our wonderful friends who hosted a shower for us Tuesday night. What a blessing! And another thank you to those reading the blog that were able to come and celebrate with us or have written, called etc to let us know we have been in your thoughts and prayers. It means so much to take this journey with you.
Night two has brought a few tears, but right now, all is quiet. Let’s pray it stays that way!
Many of you know via Facebook that our move in date was moved up and the boys come to live with us forever tomorrow!!! We are so excited, relieved, and maybe a tiny bit scared. Please continue to pray for us as we navigate our family through this transition.
When Foster Nanny dropped them off this morning Jon had a hard time saying good-bye to her. Today is the first day he realized what is happening. He’s been watching all his toys slowly move to our place and this morning Nanny packed all his clothes but one pair of jammies and one outfit for tomorrow. Once Nanny left he settled in fine, but it’s hard to watch him struggle.
Our morning was great. The boys listened well and despite a few time-outs they seemed happy and content. Lunch went well. They eat more than I do! As I type this blog they are both having a quiet time – a major coup for me! Jon is watching cartoons in our room and will get up in about a half hour. Nicholas is in his room. He stayed in bed, he let me rock him, and he eventually cried himself to sleep.
After we pick Kate up from school we have just enough time for a snack then we hit the road around 4:30 to return them for their last night with Nanny.
Tonight we have a fun party to look forward too. We are celebrating with friends the arrival of these two precious boys. Afterwards, when we get home and get Kaitlyn to sleep, we’ll scramble to get everything ready for the big day.
Keep checking the blog, we’ll post pictures after we sign the official paperwork Thursday afternoon and keep you all updated on our family’s progress. Thanks for joining us on this journey – it’s been quite the adventure!
