aaryn belfer.

Family day

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 Comments

Love, love, love! What a beautiful family you are. Congrats on three years with your wonderful Ruby!

Posted by robyn on 1 July 2008 @ 7am

Oh Yeah! You even have a picture of you at Kopi!! Happy three years!

Posted by Angel on 1 July 2008 @ 7am

You just kept my own vision of adoption alive. Beautiful, beautiful family.

Posted by Jamie on 1 July 2008 @ 7am

She rouged her nipples. Nice.

“is like being perpetually suspended in the first stages of romantic love” Could not be put any better.

Posted by Cheri @ Blog This Mom! on 1 July 2008 @ 7am

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.

Posted by Beth on 1 July 2008 @ 8am

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.

Posted by veronique on 1 July 2008 @ 8am

Beautifully put and gives me hope that I can bring my husband on board with adopting.

Posted by Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy on 1 July 2008 @ 10am

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

Posted by bonzize on 1 July 2008 @ 4pm

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.

Posted by Tiara on 1 July 2008 @ 6pm

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.

Posted by Amyesq on 2 July 2008 @ 11am

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.

Posted by Martha on 2 July 2008 @ 3pm

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