Just Like Starting Over

I wish there were words in the English language to describe what we are feeling right now; if such words exist, I don't know what they are. "Elated" doesn't quite say everything, nor does "relieved," and although "phlegmy" is technically accurate, it's not directly related to the adoption. Perhaps there is a turn of phrase in another language that suits the complexity and scope of emotions surrounding us, like "schadenfreude" but without the bitterness.

For now it will have to be enough to say that it is done. Finally, it is done. Our adoption journey has been a lot less complicated and a lot less fraught with drama than most, I am sure, but that does not make the end result any less rewarding to us. Truth be told, our transformation from "couple" to "family" has taken us the better part of five years, but none of that matters now -- all that matters is yesterday, and today, and all of our tomorrows.

At the risk of sounding like an Oscar® speech, we owe a lot of people a lot of thanks. To everyone who was there with us yesterday, both in person and in spirit -- thank you for taking the time out of your day to share in such an important moment in our lives. Thank you for encouraging us, and believing in us, and opening your hearts to a tiny, beautiful stranger whom you made a part of your lives as if she were part of yourselves from the beginning.

To everyone else -- thank you for being so supportive all along. We are sorry you couldn't be there in the courtroom when the pronouncement was made, because unfortunately you missed out on excellent future blackmail opportunities when I forgot my own name for a minute, and G forgot how old he was. When the shock and awe have faded, we will be laughing about that for a long time to come.

Hopefully, this will be my last unfunny post about the Cupcake for a while. God willing. In fact, although we will still continue to call her Cupcake at home, because she remains our sweet and delicious little thing, I think this will be the last post in which I refer to her as Cupcake here, because as of yesterday, as we were all previously promised, her name has changed, and she is now officially, legally, irrevocably our Shae. And not a moment too soon.