Birth Certificate and Court Documents: complete!
Well, we've crossed two more things off our list before we can travel. Now we wait on the "letter of no objection" (from the province of B.C.) and his passport. That should happen this week. When that is done we wait for our visa. I still can't believe we're that close to waiting for the visa to bring Moses home.
I got so emotional looking at his birth certificate and court docs today. There was a tiny little picture of him stapled to the birth certificate and we had never seen the picture before. He had on a cute shirt with a ruffle on it!
Seeing his name, Samuel Michael Krabbendam (it is tradition in Ethiopia to take the father's name and put it as the middle name) was so crazy. And then seeing Emily and Michael listed as mother and father!!!! eeek!!!
His court documents refer to him as a "her" and "she". But my caseworker has told me that this is a standard form and they don't usually proof-read it for mistakes. She has also assured me that our son is a son and not a her/she. Few!
Reading the final declaration of the court though is a very sobering thing. It is sad to read about the poor economic situation in Ethiopia that is affecting his young life in such a huge way and that "since there are no other possibilities to raise the child" he will be placed for adoption......and many many other statements that really make the whole adoption process real.
Of course, we are so happy to be adopting him. But it truly is sad to think that his birth mom is unable to. All I know is there probably will never be a day that goes by where I don't think of her. Mike and I are going to do our very best to honour her in a meaningful way with Moses each and every year.
Anyone out there have a "birth mom day" or any other ideas for how we can acknowledge her in our lives? Obviously, we will talk about her and Mosey's adoption whenever it comes up, but I want to do something special each year for her as well.
I got so emotional looking at his birth certificate and court docs today. There was a tiny little picture of him stapled to the birth certificate and we had never seen the picture before. He had on a cute shirt with a ruffle on it!
Seeing his name, Samuel Michael Krabbendam (it is tradition in Ethiopia to take the father's name and put it as the middle name) was so crazy. And then seeing Emily and Michael listed as mother and father!!!! eeek!!!
His court documents refer to him as a "her" and "she". But my caseworker has told me that this is a standard form and they don't usually proof-read it for mistakes. She has also assured me that our son is a son and not a her/she. Few!
Reading the final declaration of the court though is a very sobering thing. It is sad to read about the poor economic situation in Ethiopia that is affecting his young life in such a huge way and that "since there are no other possibilities to raise the child" he will be placed for adoption......and many many other statements that really make the whole adoption process real.
Of course, we are so happy to be adopting him. But it truly is sad to think that his birth mom is unable to. All I know is there probably will never be a day that goes by where I don't think of her. Mike and I are going to do our very best to honour her in a meaningful way with Moses each and every year.
Anyone out there have a "birth mom day" or any other ideas for how we can acknowledge her in our lives? Obviously, we will talk about her and Mosey's adoption whenever it comes up, but I want to do something special each year for her as well.
posted by emily at
7:10 PM
14 Comments:
Are you going to have an opporunity to meet the birth mother? That is great that you are clicking along! It gives all of us behind you a lot of hope and puts a smile on our faces :)
He is such a cutie!!! Glad there is no he/she issues... that is too funny!
wow Em, you really are a mommy!!!! It is SO exciting to see you and Mike becoming parents. I agree, very sad about his country and birth mom :(
but now he will have a wonderful life :)
Emmy! I'm so excited that things are moving along!! How weird to see you guys on a birth certificate as the mother and father! Talk about reality! It's those things that feel huge. I still say it started in your face the first time you saw his pictures... but it's growing in you. I think for your annual birth mom thing, you guys should make it the day it was official, and it can be a "thank you" kind of party. Like Christmas is Jesus' birthday, but most people don't have a cake and candles. I think it should be something like a Christmas... where the gift was Moses and you can all do something in thanks (like sending gifts to somewhere in Ethiopia or something). It will keep him close to his heritage, EVER thankful that he has parents like you, and especially a birth mother who loved him enough to give him a chance! Celebrate her bravery and selflessness, and all the wonderful things that have come as a result! I think it's great Emily that you are so aware of what her loss is when it would be SO easy to be caught up in your gain. YOU are brave and selfless too.
Oh I just thought of something, the day before Mother's Day is Birth Mom's Day. So you could celebrate that day every year as a day to honour her.
You are so blessed. You are going to be such wonderful parents to your sweet son.
Ok i am so in love with that little face, i like that they are very thorough in the reasons behind adoption, however, it is sad that we can send a man to the moon but can't help a family raise their child in adequate conditions- sheesh! Anyways, cheers to the new mom and dad! Cheers to Samuel Michael (wink wink) and to a travel visa! If you need an expert ok experienced caregiver to join you and help you with what ever needs I can make myself available!! ( I am so for travelling to ethiopia) and I can leave my rugrats dispersed throughout your family a few to matt, kate and your mom..lol
Emily, you are an amazing mother already!!! Your idea to honour Mose's birth mom every year is fantastic.
I have friends who met the birth mother of their adopted children and got video of her. If you have a chance to meet with her maybe you could do the same.
Samuel Michael Krabbendam, your son, how blessed he is. First by a birth mother with the courage to hope for a better life for him than she could provide. Now he has a home and parents who know how blessed they are to have him. He will bring so much love into your lives, Emily and Mike. We are so happy for you.
Wow Emmy!!! Things are really progressing! It's crazy how soon you'll be able to hold your son in your arms and have him stare up at you! Can't wait to see you as a mommy!
What a cutie!! It must feel so good to be getting closer and closer to meeting him for the first time.
Emily, I am so emotional reading your blog. This is so truly wonderful and I bet seeing those documents for the firs times was just amazing. You are so close!!!
yeah!!!
Jenny
maybe your travel buddy:0)
How incredible. Remind me how long the visa will take? I can only think in referral time right now.
So thrilled for you.
Laura
He is absolutely adorable!!!! Congrats.
Cute picture of little Mosey!!! Cant believe how fast he could be here... Woohooo!
So excited to see you guys as parents and I cant wait to count down the days to when I can finally cuddle him!!
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