Three years ago today, we flew to Chicago to meet Ruby. The delayed flight certainly added to our anticipation and also, the agony of our wait. Out of the (mere) 7 months that our adoption process took before our match, it was this last 36 hours before we held our daughter that were the most wrenching. Knowing she was a she—that she was no longer a hypothetical it, but an actual daughter , out there waiting—was excruciating. It was exhausting. It was thrilling. We couldn’t get to her fast enough.
Being a parent, as I said in an email to a friend yesterday, is like being perpetually suspended in the first stages of romantic love. I wrote, “You’re awed by every utterance, can’t wait to find out more about that person, think they may perhaps be the most perfect person to walk the planet, you want to kiss up on ‘em constantly, stare at ‘em for hours on end—even when they’re sleepin’ and you miss ‘em terribly when you’re not in their presence.”
Adopting Ruby was—and I believe I can safely speak for Sam, here—the best thing we’ve ever done. Without question.
And someone tell me, please: What would a photo of our first morning with our baby be if we didn’t have a perfect pair of breasts watching over us from above?
11 responses so far ↓
1 robyn // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:24 am
Love, love, love! What a beautiful family you are. Congrats on three years with your wonderful Ruby!
2 Angel // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:42 am
Oh Yeah! You even have a picture of you at Kopi!! Happy three years!
3 Jamie // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:49 am
You just kept my own vision of adoption alive. Beautiful, beautiful family.
4 Cheri @ Blog This Mom! // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:53 am
She rouged her nipples. Nice.
“is like being perpetually suspended in the first stages of romantic love” Could not be put any better.
5 Beth // Jul 1, 2008 at 8:05 am
I remember that little Ruby bundle she was/is so squeezable (is that a word?).
The first stages of romantic love indeed. We become so easily amused when we have children. I love it.
6 veronique // Jul 1, 2008 at 8:15 am
awesome. truly awesome. being a new! parent (maybe its the hormones.. ) i tear up as i read this post. i can safely say that the final hours were hard but definitely worth the wait.
7 Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy // Jul 1, 2008 at 10:56 am
Beautifully put and gives me hope that I can bring my husband on board with adopting.
8 bonzize // Jul 1, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Dearest FGD,
You were about 18 months old when I met you. That’s a long damn time and I am still in awe. I wish your astonishing family logevity and well-being, and most of all, love.
xoxo
9 Tiara // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Awww… This post reminds me to relax and enjoy the time that passes by because when/if my partner and I decide to parent, the right child will be out there waiting for us to adopt them.
I’m so glad you all found each other. Love is thicker than blood.
10 Amyesq // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:28 am
Aww… isn’t it the best feeling ever when you finally hold your child in your arms? You are such a happy family.
I swear, I have to control myself from proselytizing too much about adoption sometimes. It is such a great way to build a family.
11 Martha // Jul 2, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Ah…the morning breakfast date that never was.
We were just reminiscing about that earlier this week.
What a wonderful time for ALL of us.
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