How does open adoption work?

Dave and I get asked lots of questions about open adoption and "how it works." Although some may see this as an annoyance, we actually LOVE talking about adoption and sharing our story! 

We are often asked if we stay in touch with Vivienne's birthmother, "T," and how we do that. Thank goodness for cellphones and email because it is very easy to chat and share photos with T. It also helps that she is young and loves texting!  Before Vivienne was born, the three of us decided to get together often the first year of Vivienne's life because she changes so much and we want T. to get to experience this with us. At the end of November, we brought Vivienne to see Santa at the mall and asked T. if she'd like to come along. She did and it was so wonderful to share that "first" together. Vivienne and T. also got their photo taken together with Santa. We love that picture! What a great memory (and photo) to share with Vivienne.

It is important to Dave and I that Vivienne grow up knowing T., knowing that she grew in her belly, and knowing that her birthfamily loves her! We feel this is a great gift Vivienne has! So many people that love her!

Tomorrow night we are speaking to a group of waiting adoptive parents at our adoption agency. Waiting for God's right timing was the hardest part of this journey for us. We hope we can be an encouragement to those that are in the desert called waiting. I'll keep you posted on how it goes...

Seven Months Old

Our very wise 11-year-old nephew, Colin, recently told us, "Vivienne is the whole package. She is strong, smart and she is very pretty. She is going to be very successful in life. I can just tell." Too cute! Here's our little angel who just turned seven months old yesterday...

It's Official!

Today our adoption of Vivienne was finalized in the courts of our state. The hearing before the judge was brief, lasting only 15 minutes, but it was momentous in our lives! Sixteen or so of our family and friends attended the hearing with us. It has been a long journey to this point and we couldn't have made it through without such support and with our faith in God and His promise to us... that we know for sure!


The last thing the judge said before stepping down from the bench was, "I think the judge should be the first one to hold the baby for photos, don't you think?" We figured it was the least we could do after he had granted our adoption petition! ha ha!

Next we took photos with our family and with our social worker, Jane. What a truly amazing day! It's official... Vivienne, you are stuck with us!

 

Vivienne's 1st Christmas

Vivienne's cousin Colin helped her open gifts

What a haul!

A Christmas Card for Our Family & Friends

Six Months Old & As Tall As The Puppy

Six months? Seriously? We cannot believe it has been six months since we saw our baby girl for the first time. They aren't joking when they say time flies. Just last week Vivienne learned to hold her bottle and to sit up on her own. We are having a wonderful holiday season with our new little joy! Here are a few more photos from the last month . . .

Practicing how to use a sippy cup

Sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner

A Season of Thanks

We joke that this was the longest pregnancy AND the shortest pregnancy! After five years of marriage and waiting to become parents, we met Vivienne's birthmother,"T." , just 2-1/2 months before our little girl was born. On May 30, 2011, Vivienne Rose arrived and on June 24, she joined our family through the gift of open adoption. Our world is completely different now and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Some of our favorite memories of the past year...

• Celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary in April
• Experiencing Vivienne’s birth - T. asked us to be her birth coaches and to stay at the hospital with her to help care for our little one
• Enjoying having both of our families visit this summer to meet Vivienne
• Throwing a “farm birthday” for our 6 year old nephew, James - including tractor & ATV rides, bonfire, s'mores, feeding the calves and, of course, a hay ride
• Taking our first getaway weekend as a family of three - Vivienne loved the hotel pool!
• Texting, emailing, sharing photos and visiting often with Vivienne's birthmother
• Bringing Vivienne to work with Mommy most days
• Staying home with Daddy a couple days each week too
• Feeling blessed beyond what we ever imagined!

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement over the years as we waited for our little miracle to arrive. We are incredibly thankful for the gift of your friendship!

All God's blessings this holiday season,

Dave, Michelle & Vivienne