FiNaLiZaTiOn!

terday was such a special day! Yesterday was finalization! We went to court yesterday for Aria's finalization. Most of our families were able to come - Including Granny, Granda, and Grandpa! It started out that we took our spots on the left bench with our attorney and caseworker on the right bench. Our Judge was Judge Mortensen. He is really nice! He even gave us a nice print out of his thoughts on Adoption. It was a really sweet letter. Our Attorney, Paul MacArthur (we highly recommend him if any of you are adopting)then had our caseworker take the stand and she gave the judge all court documents and answered a few questions about us and then signed the agency's rights they had over to us. He then asked us a few questions, asked us our feelings on this adoption, etc. Then the judge presented his 'findings' and completed the finalization with his signature! Aria slept through the proceedings, but woke up for pictures and was all smiles! We sat her car seat she was sleeping in on a chair between us. I held her hand through it all. It was so amazing! It was a very emotional and exciting day. I couldn't stop smiling! Here are some of the pictures.

Here we are with Judge Mortensen.

L-R: Loni (our caseworker), Drew, Me, Aria and Paul MacArthur (our attorney)

Our parents too!

(Drew is absent from these pics - he was with the attorney and caseworker dealing with paperwork. :( )