Adoption Day... rewind

Okay, here we are... the official family of four. Want to see how it happened?

(All these beautiful pictures are the work of the talented Bangor Daily photographer Bridget Brown who we cannot thank enough for documenting the major events of our fall and winter- getting ready for the adoption with the photos in the paper, preparing for Maya's arrival, photographing Maya's birth and then the culmination of it all, our adoption day. Thank you so much Bridget- we love you!)

Dwight, Patti and Brevan being sworn in... I think the goldfish were not.

Mindy lovin' up Maya.

Maya's happy it's official. She told me right before she spit up.

Here's everybody!

Judge Woodcock holding Maya.

Ella with her lucky elephant Emerson had brought her that morning.

Sandi shaking the judges hand. Thanks Judge Woodcock. Your speech was moving.

Mindy smiling, Charissa trying to pretend she isn't crying and Emerson - very excited about the proceeding and about checking his laces.

Brevie giving "Bay-ba," as he calls her, some of his notorious kissing.

How does it feel? This is the question posed to us now. It feels amazing. It feels like relief beyond any description. It feels whole. In one word? HOME.