One of the many great things about having adopted kids is the fact that they have so many celebratory dates.
Sam’s birthday is in November. His Gotcha/Family was day before yesterday, and today is his Official Adoption Day, the 10th of February. Developing family traditions to mark each event is a work in progress and will evolve as he gets older. All get a good amount of hullabaloo and fun.
On this day three years ago he was finger printed, photographed and became in every legal sense OURS. Photos from the G&R (Giving and Receiving … the last official step in the official process with lots of officials showing up to get in the official photo) show a happy, if a bit nervous, couple of parents with their sweet baby boy.
(There seems to be a thing about the 10th of months in my family. Three out of four of my kids were born on the 10th of a month (August, November and April), and the fourth was due on the 10th, but born a week later – February, and he’s been late for almost everything since.)
Sam’s next date is in April, his re-adoption in Seychelles. This process changed his name and conveyed full citizenship, so is another big deal and reason to celebrate.
There’s also the day his British citizenship was granted and eventually the same with the US. Although I don’t see these as cake and ice cream occasions, they will be noted.
Then, there’s Cj having all the same events on her own special days.
So, for two kids that’s two birthdays, two Gotcha/Families, two O.A.D.s, two re-adopt days, a head nod to two join-the-Brits and two be-an-American days and Christmas and Easter and …
Sometimes I just can’t believe how much fun life can be!