It's been a busy couple of days...we're a little ragged!
Thursday, we woke up at 5:15 am...took showers and got ready and left the house by 6:30. We hopped on the 6:51 train to the city and got to Union Station at 7:27. From there, we took a cab to the Daley Center...where we went through security and rode the elevator to the 17th floor. In room 1705 (the adoption waiting room) we met our attorney, Kathleen, and we signed some paperwork. Then we rode the elevator down to the 7th floor, to the Sherrif's Dept, where Edith was served - the Sherrif's deputy actually has to touch her with the document:
Then, we travelled back up to the 17th floor, and back to room 1705 to wait for our turn in court. We were finally called into the courtroom where we answered the Judge's questions...and then she signed a few papers and the legal secretary/notary/whatever she was stamped them, and then we were done! Our petition to adopt Edith is filed, her Guardian ad Litum is appointed, we have custody of her and her name will be changed from Baby Girl to Edith Joan! Huzzah! Long day...but definitely worth it!
Today (Friday), we met Edith's birthdad! We were late getting there...let's just start there. It started with me in the morning doing 2 loads of laundry - don't know why, but I did. Then I needed to iron a shirt (I tried the Downy Wrinkle Releaser, didn't work on this particular shirt) and then I needed to take a shower. So I was later leaving than I wanted, later picking Jeremy up from work and then we ran into construction. There is a joke in Chicago that there are two seasons - Winter and Construction...except that it's not a joke, so therefore not so funny to be going less than 5 MPH on the highway.
So anyway, we got to our agency about 20 minutes late, and since Edith was pooping on the way up there, we had to stop off in the bathroom and change her! When we finally got in the meeting room, we were almost a half hour late. I loathe being late. We walked in the room and E gave us a huge smile - I can definitely see where my daughter got her good looks! E is a very attractive guy - much darker than Edith, but her b-mom is very light complected, and he said Edith is somewhere closer to her complexion. I asked E if he wanted to hold Edith, and told him that it was about time for her to eat, and asked if he wanted to feed her..."Yes Ma'am!" is what he said!
We talked about our families and E had brought pictures of his family and so we looked and he told us about all of his siblings (10 kids!!!!) and his mom and aunts and uncles...he said that his family wasn't happy that he had decided to place, and I asked if they would be interested in contact with her and he said yes. He said that Edith's b-mom's mom wanted contact too, which was great! We talked about how much contact with which we were all comfortable, and we decided that at our next meeting, he should bring his mom and his sons (aged 14 and 20) to meet Edith. I made sure to tell him that we are VERY committed to having a healthy, honest relationship with him and that we believe it's in Edith's best interests to know him and have him in her life. He seemed relieved to hear that! He said that he is going to ask his son how to set up an email address so we can email him pictures, and so we can let him know when we update Edith's special website (sorry, it's only open to Edith's birthfamily).
We were there for about an hour or so, and he had to leave to go to work, so we all got up and I gave him a hug and reiterated that we were glad that he wanted to be in Edith's life and that we were committed to making this relationship work and he thanked me, and told me to take care of her. I told him that he didn't have to worry, that we would do everything we could to make sure she grew up to be a happy, healthy and good person. He left first - and we went to the nursery to take pictures with some of the nurses for Edith's baby book, and then we went to eat something...we were STARVING!! All in all, it was a good day and we are so happy that we met him!!!
