Just another day

We finally had a weekend close to home, doing little things around the new house, playing outside and just being 'here'.  After spending the summer getting ready to sell our house, getting ready to move, moving and trying to get settled (along with a couple weekends away), it has been very busy.  I was just ready to do nothing except watch football, cook a little and relax.  Mostly, mission accomplished!  We were invited by our new neighbors yesterday to watch the game at their house, and it was great to just have an afternoon without the pressure of having to get stuff done.

My mom called me last night and pointed something out--yesterday was Tulip's Adoption Day anniversary.  She wanted to know if we were celebrating or doing something fun to commemorate the day.  I actually laughed to myself because, in light of my last post, I hadn't even thought of it.  It's on my calendar to be sure, but the day and the weekend had just passed by without me even noticing it.  I know that many in the adoption community mark or celebrate the adoption day/gotcha day annually because it is of great significance for their families.  I honor that, and think it is a very worthy day to remember.  But for me it's funny because Tulip's adoption day is six months after we got her.  We were there when she was born; we met her 15 minutes after she came into the world.  We brought her home when she was 3 days old.  It was because of the laws in our state that we could not finalize her adoption until six months later.  So in my reality, her gotcha day/day when she became my daughter is actually 3 days after she was born.  It is so important for her to know about her finalization day and for us to remember that it was the day she became forever ours, but we don't celebrate it because her birthday is the most special day to us.  That is when we began to feel as though maybe our family was going grow--and I vividly remember the 150 mile drive home from the hospital when she was just 3 days old.  That is the day I will never, ever forget. 

I am guessing I will continue to go between the place of constant angst and unknown about our open adoption with Tulip's first family and the place of simple contentment and satisfaction regarding our own little family.  They are intertwined irrevocably.  In my heart, I celebrate my daughters every single day.  But, just the same, happy belated forever day, my sweet Tulip!  I am so proud and lucky to be your momma!