Hello, readers. Sorry for the long delay between posts. Our New Year's resolution is to get better at keeping you all up to date on the Sharp Evolution. Speaking of the new year, we hope you all enjoyed your holidays. Anyway, enough with the chit chat. There's a lot to catch you up on, so let's get started.
As you already know, our little girl has been living with us since July 1. Ash immediately took some time off to bond and I was able to take some, as well. At the end of August, we threw her her first birthday party. It was such an amazing day. She had a great time with everyone who showed up and destroyed the smash cake Ashley made for her. She probably ate 2/3 of the thing. Yep, that's my kid. Cake...the greatest food ever invented.
When I returned to work in mid-October, we enrolled the kiddo in daycare. We thought she might be a little timid but she went in there and said bye to me like a champ. Of course, shortly after she started daycare, she got a cold. We expected this, though, as it's actually pretty common. She has her days when she cries when we drop her off, but she's usually excited to go play with her friends.
In our last update I mentioned that the Termination Of Parental Rights hearing was being sent to trial because both biological parents contested the termination. The trial was set for the end of October, but was delayed again. This time until the middle of December. On the advice of the baby's social worker, we hadn't been attending any of the court proceedings. Ash and I talked about possibly attending the trial in December and decided it would be a good idea.
On December 18th we went to the courthouse and found the area we needed to be in. We nervously sat on a bench while we waited for our case to be called. Once the case was called, we made our way in to the courtroom and sat in the gallery to watch the trial. It was short. The bio dad was there, but no bio mom. The judge went through the necessary procedures and then explained that, at this point, there has been nothing done by the bio parents to warrant them keeping their parental rights. PARENTAL RIGHTS WERE OFFICIALLY AND LEGALLY TERMINATED!!!
Ash and I were both fighting tears in the courtroom. I also tend to laugh when I get emotional so I was literally biting my tongue to keep from doing so while the judge was delivering his ruling. Outside of the courtroom, while speaking with the baby's social worker and attorney, we couldn't hold it in anymore. We were just so elated that one of the final obstacles was out of the way. It was such a great feeling! I can't even begin to describe it.
There is now a short period of time during which the bio parents can appeal the ruling. We have been told not to worry about that though, so we aren't. Once that time period passes, we will begin the final stage of the adoption process!
Let's fast forward a few days. To December 24th. Our first Christmas Eve with a child. This is the day my family has their get together. We got there a little after 6 p.m. and everyone was excited to have the new addition there for the party. We have an awesome tradition of opening presents at midnight. Ash and I decided that we'd try to wake the kid up at gift time since her normal bedtime is 8. We didn't have to do that. She somehow managed to stay up the entire time. She was having a lot of fun running around being the center of attention. We said our goodbyes after gifts and thought she would fall asleep in the car. Wrong! She ended up going to bed around 1 a.m.
Christmas morning, we always head to Ash's parents house for gifts with them and her sister. We usually try to get there by 8 but the baby didn't wake up until then. She was worn out from the night before. So we got her out of her crib and took her into the living room to see what Santa left for her. She was groggy at first and still doesn't understand the concept of Santa so it took a minute to see what we were waiting for.
Once she saw the rocking pony, Sophia the First chair and giant stuffed animals under the tree, her face lit up in pure joy. It was the greatest thing I've ever seen. She has a cute little smirk that she breaks out before the full smile hits and it makes it even better. We headed over to see Grammy, Pa and Auntie and she got to tear into a lot more presents. We spent Christmas day with Ash's family and my mom and her fiancé. The kidlet got to spend the spend the day with the people who love her most and we all had a wonderful day. To be honest, it was the best Christmas of my life.
So now, as we wait for the next step, we begin a new year with the same goal in mind. To adopt this beautiful little girl and continue to give her a life full of love, happiness and stability. And to continue the Sharp Evolution.
