Tuesday was a very busy day. We had to appear in court to 'present' ourselves and our intention to adopt EmmaMarie. That was at 8:30am, then at 11am we needed to take EmmaMarie to her first post-hospital check up and then at 4:30 we were to take her on her first ever airplane ride.
It was a busy schedule, made busier by the fact that the court was across the Puget Sound with 90 minutes of driving time and 40 on a ferry across the sound, and of course back to make it to the doctor.
Luckily, the court appearance was only 20 minutes long :).
The judge, a white bearded very wise looking thin santa claus kind of man, read our home study report, looked up and smiled. "This child is going to have a wonderful life" He said, said it looked like we'd make great parents and said good luck.
That was it. Well, of course we need to have three post-placement visits in our home and a few more paperwork things and our lawyer needs to finalize in court in about 6 months from now, but at least the first step was a very pleasant one.
On to the pediatrician back on the other side of the sound. She said Emma Marie was doing wonderfully. She weighed 5lbs and 4 oz. A full pound more than at birth. The nurse told us her weight and height were in the 5 and 10 percentile range.
"top?" I asked. "bottom" of course she answered.
But the doctor said that was a very good thing, that even at minus 1-2 weeks (she was due this month) she is already on the charts for newborns :).
We have been told we can take her out, meet people and even fly, as long as we have people wash their hands and not get too cozy :)..
It was on to the airport. My brother Scott drove us. We were there a couple hours or more early. Checked in. Of course Emma Marie was the center of attention. Everyone was wonderful and kind. And she flew better than we did, taking off and landing didn't seem to bother her at all, except for the occasional grimace.
We've been in California a couple days. She has met her Uncle Jim, Aunt Buthina, cousin Cody, and cousin Shannon. Later next week she'll be meeting a few others of her very extended and loving family.
And she is taking it very well, except for the one episode of screaming in the phone to Uncle Rick :). Perhaps that is her only way to say hi at the moment.
We took her on a short outing today. Guy couldn't resist a few clothes and dresses at Gymboree and then a few items at the Pottery Barn for Kids...
oh my, we didn't even know they had such a thing. We need to save ourselves from spoiling this poor child. We promised to only buy one gift at Christmas and her birthday, now.. how do you do that? When the world conspires against you by creating Baby Pottery Barns and cute toy stores. We will perservere :).
The woman at Potterybarn was wonderful. She loved hearing the story, said it made her day. And of course, she was completely enamored of Emma Marie (ok, so I'm trying to get her called Emma Marie.. its an uphill battle, it is four syllables, still, its pretty :). It was great to have such support and friendliness from strangers. IT is a changing world. Well, parts of it, the parts we plan to live in.
The emotions and thoughts that run through our heads are immense and incredible, but those will have to wait till I can figure out how to put them down into words, I wonder if I would ever be able to.
It was a busy schedule, made busier by the fact that the court was across the Puget Sound with 90 minutes of driving time and 40 on a ferry across the sound, and of course back to make it to the doctor.
Luckily, the court appearance was only 20 minutes long :).
The judge, a white bearded very wise looking thin santa claus kind of man, read our home study report, looked up and smiled. "This child is going to have a wonderful life" He said, said it looked like we'd make great parents and said good luck.
That was it. Well, of course we need to have three post-placement visits in our home and a few more paperwork things and our lawyer needs to finalize in court in about 6 months from now, but at least the first step was a very pleasant one.
On to the pediatrician back on the other side of the sound. She said Emma Marie was doing wonderfully. She weighed 5lbs and 4 oz. A full pound more than at birth. The nurse told us her weight and height were in the 5 and 10 percentile range.
"top?" I asked. "bottom" of course she answered.
But the doctor said that was a very good thing, that even at minus 1-2 weeks (she was due this month) she is already on the charts for newborns :).
We have been told we can take her out, meet people and even fly, as long as we have people wash their hands and not get too cozy :)..
It was on to the airport. My brother Scott drove us. We were there a couple hours or more early. Checked in. Of course Emma Marie was the center of attention. Everyone was wonderful and kind. And she flew better than we did, taking off and landing didn't seem to bother her at all, except for the occasional grimace.
We've been in California a couple days. She has met her Uncle Jim, Aunt Buthina, cousin Cody, and cousin Shannon. Later next week she'll be meeting a few others of her very extended and loving family.
And she is taking it very well, except for the one episode of screaming in the phone to Uncle Rick :). Perhaps that is her only way to say hi at the moment.
We took her on a short outing today. Guy couldn't resist a few clothes and dresses at Gymboree and then a few items at the Pottery Barn for Kids...
oh my, we didn't even know they had such a thing. We need to save ourselves from spoiling this poor child. We promised to only buy one gift at Christmas and her birthday, now.. how do you do that? When the world conspires against you by creating Baby Pottery Barns and cute toy stores. We will perservere :).
The woman at Potterybarn was wonderful. She loved hearing the story, said it made her day. And of course, she was completely enamored of Emma Marie (ok, so I'm trying to get her called Emma Marie.. its an uphill battle, it is four syllables, still, its pretty :). It was great to have such support and friendliness from strangers. IT is a changing world. Well, parts of it, the parts we plan to live in.
The emotions and thoughts that run through our heads are immense and incredible, but those will have to wait till I can figure out how to put them down into words, I wonder if I would ever be able to.
