From the very beginning of this long, arduous adoption process THIS is the day we've waited for, hoped for, prayed for....today, at 8:30 am, we met at the Fort Bend County Courthouse and finalized the adoption of Karsten. We are no longer his Prospective Adoptive Parents....we are now legally his parents. No more monthly Pediatrician appointments, no more monthly visits with Charlotte, no more monthly progress reports to fill out. We are his and he is ours...forever. I didn't cry, but almost did when our attorney asked me if I was ready to legally become his mother, to legally become a first-time mother. I quickly replied, "Yes, absolutely!" As I stood there before the Judge, I had a quick flashback to a very difficult day when I was 12. The day I had to choose whether or not I would be willing to have my first heart transplant. On that day I will never forget thinking to myself "well, I want to be a wife and mother, so yes!" That was my reasoning at 12 years old and today the second half of that reasoning was literally signed into history.
His name was legally changed to Karsten Edward Moore, we didn't realize that he had been given a birthname, but now his birth certificate will say Karsten Edward Moore and we will be documented as his parents!!! So. Very. Cool!
Yes, on April 10th when we brought him home we became his parents, but there was always an asterik next to that. Technically the Adoption Agency was still his legal guardian. Until today :) There are no more asteriks...and unless asked I don't even think I'll mention that he's adopted. It's pretty obvious, but I feel like he is such a part of us now that it doesn't even matter. Blood doesn't make a family, Love makes a family!!!
The Judge Pope gave Karsten a stuffed Hippo that we've named "Hippope"
A little "jet pilot" while we waited for Charlotte, who had another adoption finalization to take care of.
Charlotte, the director of the adoption agency
To all of you who have prayed over our adoption journey THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. We know that God's hands have been all over this journey and we continue to pray that He will guide us in raising our son, Karsten Edward Moore, for a lifetime to come!
Congratulations to your beautiful/handsome family!!!
Posted by: Beverly Harrison | October 22, 2011 at 08:04 AM
SO VERY EXCITED IT IS FINALLY OFFICIAL! Gosh I cried when you got married and now I cry for your amazing son! So happy your lifelong dream has finally come true!
Posted by: Kate Balbin | October 22, 2011 at 11:13 AM
SO HAPPY FOR ALL OF YOU!
Posted by: Danice | October 22, 2011 at 11:43 AM
YEA! YEA! YEA!!
Posted by: amy | October 22, 2011 at 09:51 PM
Congratulations Angela... your son is beautiful.... i still remember our day like yours over 7 years ago and it still feels like yesterday.... it's a wonderful day when you finally are officially a family....
Posted by: jill | October 24, 2011 at 09:51 PM