We are Officially Parents!!

Greetings from Moscow!! So although it's only 9:30 am back home, here it is 6:30 pm and about 6 hours ago, we passed court and officially became the proud parents of Brayden Patrick Belanger!!! Court was pretty easy actually. Okay, yes I was sweating and thought I was going to pass out during it, but truth was it was pretty smooth! The judge asked us about 5 questions or so. Why we were adopting & why from Russia,  about our careers and income, and then about our time with Brayden. The whole process was quick & only lasted about 15-20 minutes or so. Olga, who was our translator during court, gave the judge our photo album of pictures from our last visit and of our families and the room, etc. and she seemed to love it. She kept smiling and at one point asked about our big family! She, along with the prosecutor, were laughing when we told them how he had grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all waiting anxiously for him to come home!!

After we spoke the director of the baby home and one of the social workers talked about his history for a few minutes and both said they felt it was in his best interest for us to become his parents. She left for about five minutes and then came back with her decision and we got a Yes! I was surprised at how emotional I got when the judge congratulated us. I was crying, Olga was tearing up, the director of his baby home was crying and gave us both a big hug and kiss. It was pretty cool, especially when we realized that we had done it. This crazy, long, stressful process was almost over and we were now parents!! Now, we just have to wait to pick him up!

So, the only downside is the 30 day wait period now. It offically "ends" on Saturday, February 25th which means that we travel a week after that. Olga explained that after it is lifted they need a week to prepare documents for us to be ready for our  Embassy appointment, Trip 3. So this means we will be back in Moscow on Sunday, March 4th, pick him up on the 5th and bring him HOME on Saturday, March 10th. I just pray that the time goes by quickly!! Yes, it is a pain that they added this law, but we also know that when we see him the next time, we take him with us! He's ours and he'll really, truly, be coming home!! Not to mention, it's one more week later that I go back to school! Now, I won't have to go back until the last week in May, which means only 3 weeks of work and then I'm off again for the summer!!! : )

Okay well I think we are going to hit our mini bar and have a well-earned celebratory drink!! Will update again soon when back in US! (leave in just 18 hours!)

P'aka!!! (bye!)