The Big Day!

Today we finalized our adoption of Jade in court. I can't believe it's been 6 months!

It was really awesome. They had both of us swear in and get up in the stand. Then, the lawyer asked us some questions including how we feel about Jade and how we feel about each other as parents. I was very nervous when I was up there. It felt kind of like I was bearing my testimony at church because all these emotions were rushing through me.

Jade was very excited the whole time! It seriously seemed like she knew exactly what we were doing. She was jumping up and down and laughing. I think she did know what was going on. At the end the Judge said, "and for the record, I would like to say, that is the cutest cooing sound I have heard in here for a long time." Then he hit the mallet on his desk and said, "Congratulations!" We were and are pretty excited.

Next week, we are going to the Temple to get sealed to her, and Weldon will bless her on that next Sunday. We are really looking forward to that! This is the PERFECT Christmas present!! We wouldn't want anything else!

This picture is the Judge (he wanted to hold Jade), Julie, Weldon, Julie's mom (Meema), and our caseworker Jared.