Our approval came in February. And waiting came in March. Our anniversary came in May, and little did we know that it was the last that we'd spend as a family of two! Our hearts were still impatient to meet the baby that God had chosen to be ours. We started summer (the best time of year here), and then that moment came in July.
July 16th (Monday) - I had just called our caseworker to see if there was any news about our certification and if there was anything else we should be doing. She left me a voicemail saying no updates, just be patient. 30 minutes later, my phone rang and it was a number I didn't recognize. (for months, any number I didn't recognize made my heart leap - NOT awesome during an election year) I answered and it was a pregnancy worker from our agency. I asked if this was a phone call I needed to take notes on, and she said yes. I almost fainted at my desk. I went into a private room, and took down all the details about Nora and her birthmom, and their situation (she was due August 22nd). Ben had been at the dentist when I got the call, so I had to wait for him to call me back to share the news. He drove to my office and we sat in his car, crying and praying. This was 3:00, people. I worked until 5! I was going CRAZY at my desk.
July 17th - we called the caseworker back and said YES! We wanted to move forward with the match.
July 23rd (Monday) - we got a call that Nora's birthmom would be induced the following Monday. ONE WEEK away. Just two weeks from the first phone call.
July 30th (Monday) - we met Nora's birthmom and her mom at the hospital and spent several hours getting to know them.
July 31st - Nora was born at 10:31 PM, and we got to meet her about 20 minutes later. The most incredible moments of my life. Purely indescribable. As much as I've already forgotten about Nora's early months - I will NEVER forget this night.
August 3rd (Friday) - We brought Nora home, not knowing if she'd forever be in our family or not (see post here). She became ours 2 weeks later and life will never be the same!
Since then, life has been a whirlwind of motherhood and discovering all that it means. I've already forgotten so much about her early months. It's difficult to remember what my days looked like when she was 2 months, 3 months old. I've gone back to work, and even though I get to spend MOST of my time with my daughter - it's very different.
Nora's 5 months old now. She weighs 15 pounds! She's about to start solid foods. She's rolling over. She is the same little girl from 7/31, and at the same time she's not.
2013 will be a very different year in our house and I can't wait for every minute of it!
