Today, Riley has been with us (living in our home) for seven months.

This update seems harder to write than the past updates. We were sure that the adoption would be finalized by now. Everything is ok, but due to some law changes, we are taking additional steps with the paperwork.

When we first started this process, I joked with people that our day in court might be anti-climatic because everything had gone so smoothly and he already felt like part of the family. Now, when this day comes, I will probably be a wonderful, weepy mess. I am very ready for the process to be over –  just to be done with the waiting.

In the meantime, I am watching our family grow. The kids have adjusted beautifully to having a little brother to care for. Every time they show him off to his friends, I just smile.

We are also navigating spending time with Riley’s extended family. We are blessed to have his great-aunt and grandmother within about 30 minutes.  Because it is a designated adoption, that means that we can include them in family events and take Riley over for visits.

We are taking cues from Riley as to how this works for him emotionally. After an event, we watch Riley for a few days for behavioral and emotional clues. If he seems fine, we keep going forward. If he begins to act out (biting, hitting, or not sleeping), we slow down and leave more time between the visits.

I cannot imagine how hard this is for them. My heart aches some days.

I am thankful for the future. When he has questions and a desire to identify with his biological family, he will have two precious people to fill in those answers for him. His grandmother gave us pictures of when he was a baby. My heart about burst out of my chest.

I love looking at the pictures. He looks just the same to me.

Please pray for his family and their transition. Please pray for me to be a kind and gentle mother to this very special treasure.

Have a blessed day!

Kate