Petition for Adoption

Yesterday was a big day! It seemed so surreal going to the lawyer's office and signing that paperwork to file a petition for adoption. All the paperwork on our end is done. We are literally waiting for everything to get through the court system. They are saying by the end of the year, everything should be finished. I think I envisioned this big day in court, like you see in the movies, where the judge proclaims that she's officially adopted, bangs his gavel, and everyone cheers. But it's just paperwork. They said they could have an official court ceremony if we wanted to, and I might. It's just such a big, significant event, and I feel like we should have pictures.

I just can not wait till I can share pictures with you all! I know some people have asked why I put a sticker over her face. It is a privacy thing, and once she's officially adopted, I can share her beautiful little face with you all. I have SO much I want to share! She has such a silly personality, and she loves to get Levi laughing.

I feel like life is finally settling down some. I'm not going to lie, this past year has been an overwhelming whirlwind at times. Adjusting from two very self-sufficient older children to four children, two being babies, was rough. There were days I cried. Cried from exhaustion, frustration, feeling incapable and overwhelmed. It's chaotic trying to nurse a baby while your two-year-old is trying to climb on the kitchen counter and flood the kitchen floors with the sink nozzle, or flush things down the toilet, or any other number of mischievous acts. She is so darn cute, but man, does she have a knack for getting into trouble! And she is very strong willed, and could throw a temper tantrum like you wouldn't believe.  I was constantly reminded that I alone am not capable of this, and I needed to lean on my savior for strength. He called me to this, and He will help me through it. 

We are getting into a rhythm. She is using her words more, which helps tremendously. Being able to communicate her wants cuts back on the tantrums significantly. It's still hard, but I know this phase of life will be gone too soon, and I'll look back and remember how cute and little they used to be. I'll forget how hard it was, and wish I could go back, just for a day, to when they were little!