ITS FINALLY OFFICIAL!!! We had Aspen's adoption hearing today at the courthouse and she is now officially and legally our daughter. She has been our daughter from the moment she was born, but now we've got the little paper that says so! I was a little nervous going in there, but it was such a special time. The judge was so nice and happy to be having a "happy family day" putting a family together instead of the opposite. She was really nice.
So the first thing we did was the judge swore us in and then Malo took the stand and our attorney asked him a series of questions starting with things like his name, address, age, if we're married, when we got married, when Aspen was born and when she was placed in our home. Then she asked other questions like "Do you love Aspen?" and if we wanted to adopt her, if she's acclimated to our family. She asked him if he was mentally and physically able to provide for Aspen, if he would educate her and do all the things a father should for his daughter. She asked several questions like this and then ended with asking him if it was in Aspen's best interest to be adopted into our family and why. Malo said "Yes, because we are the best parents for her." He makes me laugh. He is so straightforward and to the point. That's what he was thinking and so that's what he said. I sure love him and I fell a little more in love with him today, watching him on the stand testifying that he loves our baby girl and that he will continue to love and care for her.
Then it was my turn to take the stand and they didn't ask me the first questions. They asked my name, address and age and if I was married to Malo. They asked who all lives in our home and if we have any other children (to which i looked at my rapidly expanding belly and answered "not quite.") Then they started with "Is Aspen the child whom you wish you adopt" and I said yes, then they asked "Do you love Aspen?" And then the waterworks started. I answered "Absolutely" and couldn't stop crying. The judge and the court clerk both said "awwww" but I was embarrassed. And when I was asked the question if I would give her the love a mother should, I just bawled and said of course. I looked down at my beautiful baby girl sitting on her daddy's lap and felt like the most blessed person in the world to have them both in my life. When they came to the question of why it was in Aspen's best interest to be in our family, I rambled on and on (a big shock, I know!) about how much we love her and that she'll have a mom and a dad, which she wouldn't have otherwise had...and other rambling. And then I finally abrubtly ended and said because we love and adore her and will always do everything we can to make her happy. I'm such a dork.
And then the judge had us both stand and she said some stuff I don't remember because I was crying and then pronounced that Aspen was now our daughter "forever and ever!" It was so sweet and I just cried and cried and the court clerk was crying and our attorney said she was tearing up, too, but I didn't see that. It was just so special. I just feel so blessed that we could have this day....and all the waiting and worrying and frustration was so worth it. Now next month we'll finish everything up with having her sealed to us and then it really will be "forever and ever" like our judge said today!
Now, a couple funny little things. Aspen for some reason this morning became REALLY attached to my comb and that is the ONLY thing that she wanted to hold on to....she held on to that stupid comb during the hearing and before and after. She's so silly. And also, our attorney thought she took 3 or 4 pictures of our little family with the judge, but when I looked on the camera when we got home, there were not any pictures. Not sure what happened, she must've just not pushed the button. So the only picture we have from today is the one I took with Aspen and our attorney (and Aspen's chewing on the comb!). Oh well. :-) 
