I thought that I posted this last week but I'm not seeing it. So, here we go again.Â
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I found out last Thursday that my daughter's adoption is now FINAL. She's officially Paviella Elizabeth Ourlastname. Her first name is pronounced they way it's always been but now the spelling matches the sound. She is proudly using her first and last name but says she won't be "ELIZABETH" until her birthday (in February.)
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I wrote this last year on second anniversary of receiving a call from DSS about Pavi.Â
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"Two years ago, this week, I received a call from DSS. Chris and I were just pulling into the parking lot at the State Fair. My then licensing worker, S. was calling to ask me if I was interested in a placement of an eight month old baby girl. She wasn't sure how to pronounce the baby's name. She was pretty sure it wasn't pronounced as it's spelled, though. My heart started racing. I asked S. to hold and asked Chris if he wanted us to take care of a baby for a while. Chris loves babies and got really excited. S. said she was heading into a meeting but she would call me back later. She also said that we didn't need to leave the fairgrounds. We enjoyed the fair (well, Chris more than me) but my mind was definitely thinking baby thoughts. It turns out that the other licensing social worker was talking with another foster family about the same baby and the placement went to them. Oh well, another placement would happen at some point.
Six weeks later, I received a call from S.. She told me that the baby needed to be moved and asked if I was still interested. Well, duh... I spoke with the foster mother and two days later we picked up this roly poly baby with the most squishable cheeks. I was told that she'd probably go live with family in a couple of weeks but with foster care you never know. She was a wonderful addition to our family. Chris loved having a "little sister" and she charmed everyone she met. We fell in love. It took a month, but we finally learned how to properly say her name. And no, it's not like it's spelled.
It's been two years since that first phone call and I'm meeting with S.(now my adoption social worker) to update my adoption home study. I hope to finalize her adoption in February or March. The baby is no longer a baby. She's a 2 1/2-year-old bundle of energy and joy. She still charms everyone she meets. She's a talker. All.the.time. When she's not singing, that is. She loves school and loves life. She's so much like Chris. They may not be related by blood but they are brother and sister in every other way.
I didn't get into fostering to adopt, but I can't imagine my life without these two people in it."
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So, here are three pictures of my daughter. The first one was taken around the time she came home (November 2007) at nine months. The second was taken with her big brother about 18 months ago. And the third was taken just recently.                                              
  
