We've adopted

Dave and I have adopted our first baby, and we are so happy. And shocked. And nervous. And thrilled. Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers.

Dave, Jessica, and I Tuesday, Mar 2, the day she was released from the hospital.

I am so sleepy right now; it's been an exciting day, and I have awaken in the middle of the night for several nights now. (My body is just practicing I guess.) So I'll try to get some details out--if I sound boring, it's because I'm tired. And this blog looks terrible because it's my first. We forgot our camera cable, so tonight the only pictures are cell phone pictures of camera pictures. She is sleeping right now in her ocean-themed pack and play in our hotel room in Birmingham.

She was discharged from the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham, AL today (March 2, 2010) at 5 pm. She was born Sunday, Feb 28, 2010 about 4:45 pm Central time. We were called by the birthmother's parents that morning about 8:45 am Eastern time, and we were on the road by 11 am to make the 11 hour trip. (Dave got out of PEC, a sacrament meeting talk, and a major church planning meeting. I was in the shower when the call came.) We were just over the Georgia border (mile marker 71 on highway 75) when we heard her crying over the phone. I turned to Dave and said "Congratulations, you're the father of a baby girl." and he teared up and said "I need to get me a shotgun."

She was 7 lbs. 5 oz., 19 inches, blue eyes, light tan maybe reddish hair, and very healthy. And of course, beautiful. The mother named her Oakley Kaitlynn, which we will probably change later to Jessica Kaitlynn. We signed the placement papers Monday night, and Tuesday the mother released her to the hospital, the hospital released her to us.

(For those interested, under Alabama law she and the birthfather can change their minds over the next 5 days. We have to stay in the state of Alabama for roughly about a week while the Interstate Compact is signed allowing us to take her into Florida. Finalization will be in an Alabama court in about 60 days, after which we can give her a baby blessing and have her sealed to our family for time and all eternity in the Orlando temple.)

We love our birthmom, who is easy-going, writes funny long emails, and is a lot like us (homebody, a little shy, reads, likes cats). She and her husband are both 22, and were not ready to be parents. Our birthmom said she picked us because we were one state away (the perfect distance) and had a cat. Her husband is a funny guy, likes computers, martial arts movies, and can breakdance like nobody's business (so we've heard). She is dark haired and slender, and he's tall, thin and red-headed. They have made simple requests which we are too happy to do, like make sure she tries new foods (is that me to a 't' or what?) and study martial arts. (This is going to be fun.)

The birthmom was raised as a Mormon, but stopped attending church around age 12. We're glad she called LDS family services about adoption when she was 6 months pregnant. She has been a "golden" birthmother from the day she emailed us (January 30) and very steady. We plan on telling our daughter all about them and the time we've spent with them. But we will not be giving out any other details out of respect for their privacy. So don't ask.

The birthgrandparents (her parents & stepparents) are all active in members of our church. They encouraged their daughter a lot, and get all our love for their support of her and their courage to trust us with their grandchild. They have been warm and we will keep in contact with all of them as long as they wish. We love you all.

I already love her more than my own life. We can't wait for her to grow up so we can she who she what she is like. And so she stops spitting up. More tomorrow.