Bittersweet Day

Five weeks ago we brought home Baby-Joy, today we said good-bye. For five weeks I heard, Isn't it going to be hard to let her go? At first I was just so excited to hand over this sweet package to a family who wanted her so badly, that I'd say I didn't think it would be hard. Two weeks into it reality hit. Tennison asked if we could adopt her, Reagan called her her little sista, Whitney would change her diaper and outfit like a seasoned veteran. The kisses were in abundance and the love was thick. So yes, yes it is going to kill me to let her go... it is going to kill all of us.
Well, I'm happy to report it didn't kill me, but I have an ache in my heart and a lump in my throat. Today we handed over our (yes our) sweet little package, our littlest friend. She has a piece of hearts forever. Here is a look into our journey over the past 5 weeks.

At the hospital - we both had colds so we wore masks.

We brought her home to 3 very curious kids!

Our whiteboard on the back door recorded many messages about Baby-Joy these past weeks.

That yummy face, that yummy dimple!

Baby-Joy loved the car seat, her favorite nap spot. And that hat - I could lick her!

Love.

Bliss.

Happiness.

All said and done I took a mere 539 pictures capturing our time together.

From head to wrinkly toe we loved this little girl.

A precious moment... Tennison looks like Peter Pan doing I Love You in the shadow.

We did our best to hold it together yesterday at the placement. We all had our moments of crying. It was either done the night before, right in front of everyone, or in the quiet of our hearts. We met her parents, Ryan and Kim, and know she'll be great. After a hard time getting pregnant they started the adoption process, but put it on hold when they found out they were pregnant. When their daughter Kyla was born, February 5, 2010 she was not breathing. She was flight-for-lifed to Children's Hospital in Denver and passed away on February 10th. In the fall they were in the process of adopting when the birth mother changed her mind. Due to the heartaches this couple has faced the agency felt they needed to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Baby-Joy was theirs. That is why we were given the honor of standing in the gap. And now she is theirs!! After a one year memorial for Kyla Saturday, we met them the following morning. This is full circle for me as an adoptee.

Kim, Ryan and Makyla Joy!

They kept Joy - I cried.

Scott looking like the dad over all of us. That hand on Ryan's shoulder is squeezing tight saying, "You take care of that baby, I'm watchin' you." Just kiddin'. Look how happy they are.

Our sweet boy drew a picture at the agency of him holding Makyla Joy.

Scott & I are beyond proud of our kids for how they took on this adventure. Not once did they complain. They always helped out, either grabbing a diaper, changing an outfit, putting in the nuk, loading her in the carseat, whatever it took. This was their baby as much as ours. I want to thank Scott for joining me in another adventure in our lives. Without your support it would have never happened. And to our friends and family, thanks for taking care of us through this time - we appreciate your words of encouragement, meals, coffee treats, and prayers. This is a journey we will never forget and hope to maybe do again. If we don't it was all worth it for her!

But for now we shall sleep!!