AUTHOR: M. DATE: 9:32:00 AM ----- BODY:

I couldn't help it, I had to do a little teasing... I am so thrilled to introduce you to my new son, Roo, born in the state of Georgia at 3:11 pm on July 28th, 2006, one day before his due date. We learned that his birthmother was in labor a few hours before he arrived. I. called me at work around 1 pm and said: "she's in labor, and today is your last day of work." We called the florist, the adoption agency, our moms, the pediatrician, the car rental place... My supervisor reminded me that people leave this suddenly for much worse reasons and encouraged me to get home as soon as I could. We had the weekend to get our act together, and then left Monday in a rental car and drove hell for leather to Atlanta to stay with my parents an hour from where Roo was born. We've heard so many stories about people who have adopted domestically staying in hotels for weeks, buying their meals in restaurants, and living in one room. I feel so lucky that we were able to be at my parent's house, that they could meet him so soon and that we were so well taken care of by his proud new grandparents. Georgia has a 10-day revocation period after the birth family signs the Termination of Parental Rights (which happened 2 days after he arrived). Usually the baby is in temporary care during that time, but in this case the caregiver was going on vacation, so we picked him up on Wednesday - day 3 of the revocation period and his 6th day of life. We felt mixed about it - we were so grateful not to have to wait another 10 days before meeting him, and also terrified that we would fall in love with him and then lose him. It was stressful to have him in those circumstances, but also just incredible. It’s hard to believe fully formed human beings can start out at that size - 7 pounds, 10 ounces. That little round belly and those big feet… We stayed in Atlanta until we got approval from the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children in Georgia and Massachusetts. After all that stress about the Georgia ICPC, we sailed through practically without a hitch - and in about 5 days, instead of the usual 10. On Tuesday night, day 9 of the revocation period, we got on an Amtrak and headed home. The 24-hour train trip was as smooth as it possibly could have been. All the way there we talked about how well it went, but as soon as we got off we realized how hard it had been. We still can’t believe we did it. We were met at the train by a welcome wagon, and came home to a newly clean house, happy, well-cared for cats, flowers, Indian food take-out, a meal in the fridge, and a beautiful hand-made cradle on loan from friends. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, and friends dropped by with four bags of groceries. And the boy is doing great - before we got off the train we put him in the cute outfit we had brought him home in and realized that in one week he had already outgrown it. We feel asleep that night completely exhausted, crying over the birth family’s loss of this amazing little being and also feeling so blessed that he’s ours. We’re getting used to each other, bonding and snuggling and keeping each other up all night, and we’re beyond thrilled to be settling in at home with our beautiful, beautiful boy. I have so much more to say about our relationship with his birth family, where his real name came from, the day we met him, and so many other things, but this will do for a beginning. More to come.

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:4:06 PM COMMENT-BODY:Well, congrats to you and I! My goodness, so sudden. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:4:07 PM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations, welcome and peace to everyone involved! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:5:02 PM COMMENT-BODY:Delurking with tears in my eyes. I am so glad that this went relatively smoothly. Thinking of you both, the first family, all Roo's extended family and the little Roo himself. Be well and soak up these first days. Thanks for posting!!
[the word verification is "bowwy"! Wow, it's a boy!] -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Amy COMMENT-DATE:5:40 PM COMMENT-BODY:OMG SO INCREDIBLE! I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES AND I'M SO BEYOND THRILLED & ELATED FOR YOU BOTH AT THIS AMAZING NEW ADDITION DO YOUR FAMILY! CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR MORE & RUBY & I BOTH LOOK FORWARD TO ONEDAY SEEING BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF LITTLE MISTER ROO, WHETHER ON THE BLOG, OR IN PRIVATE EMAIL! ALL OUR BEST TO THE HAPPY FAMILY OF 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XoXoXoXo

-Amy & Ruby Cate -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Poor_Statue COMMENT-DATE:5:45 PM COMMENT-BODY:Yippee!!!! So happy for you. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Dawn COMMENT-DATE:7:08 PM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations! Give Roo many hugs and then feed our insatiable need for more details of your life when you can! :D And PICTURES! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:7:42 PM COMMENT-BODY:Yayyyyy! COngratulations to the happy family! I can't wait to hear even more details! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:9:08 PM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: susan COMMENT-DATE:10:00 PM COMMENT-BODY:Welcome to the world, Roo! And many happy wishes for all of you as you get to know each other as a family of three. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: art-sweet COMMENT-DATE:10:32 PM COMMENT-BODY:I'm so thrilled for you.

I hope some day to have a big picnic with all of the wonderful bloggers who have so enriched my life - and their KIDS!

Congratulations, mommies! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: carrym COMMENT-DATE:1:48 AM COMMENT-BODY:Oh, YAY, YAY, YAY!!!! Can't wait to hear more...

Glad everything has worked out so far, and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Happy Motherhood you two! And welcome, little Roo... -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:3:20 AM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations! Can't wait to hear more! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Barb COMMENT-DATE:6:02 AM COMMENT-BODY:sending lots of good wishes. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: My Baby Ain't White COMMENT-DATE:7:17 AM COMMENT-BODY:Congrats to all three of you. Sounds like you all are indeed enjoying the moment. Simply thrilled for your family.

~Karen -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: jfsl/jwsl COMMENT-DATE:7:28 AM COMMENT-BODY:Welcome Roo! COngratulations. You truly are lucky and blessed.
DS-L -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: J COMMENT-DATE:10:48 AM COMMENT-BODY:This is amazing news. Congratulations to you both, and welcome Roo! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: King Noah COMMENT-DATE:11:34 AM COMMENT-BODY:It was so good to hear from you and to get such wonderful news. Enjoy every little second with Roo and congratulations to the two of you! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Michelle COMMENT-DATE:11:51 AM COMMENT-BODY:congratulations!!!! I have been waiting for this post!!!!!! i am so happy for you both..you will make wonderful parents...i cant wait to hear more about your journey to your son!!!!!

congrats MAMA!!!!! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Clementine COMMENT-DATE:3:01 PM COMMENT-BODY:M., I'm so happy for you! A thousand welcomes to baby Roo, and lots of love to all three of you. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Hashbrown COMMENT-DATE:7:13 AM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations, M! You and your wife must be so thrilled. AJWP and I have been holding our breaths and crossing our fingers since you posted you were heading down to GA. It is so wonderful that it went so smoothly and you have your beautiful baby boy! What joy! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Mindy COMMENT-DATE:8:23 AM COMMENT-BODY:A happy welcome to Roo! This is fabulous! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:9:38 AM COMMENT-BODY:So exciting! That's wonderful, congrats to you all. Enjoy your new little one. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Laura COMMENT-DATE:10:32 AM COMMENT-BODY:So much congratulations! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: charlotte COMMENT-DATE:7:56 PM COMMENT-BODY:I am so incredibly happy for you all! I send tear filled blessings your way. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:7:46 AM COMMENT-BODY:Too wonderful for words, truly. Love and peace and strength to all three of you. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:11:19 AM COMMENT-BODY:you made it.
congrats on your new addition to your family. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Wendy and Karen COMMENT-DATE:1:34 PM COMMENT-BODY:Fantastic! Congratulations & Best Wishes! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:9:53 PM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations! I'm so so happy for you. I'm so happy that Roo is safe and happy in a healthy home.

-John G. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:11:14 PM COMMENT-BODY:Congratulations! So happy to hear all went smoothly. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: LilySea COMMENT-DATE:12:17 AM COMMENT-BODY:Just wonderful! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:9:32 AM COMMENT-BODY:Congrats. And welcome to the world Roo! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Carrie COMMENT-DATE:10:12 PM COMMENT-BODY:Congrats on your new son!!!! I met you two at a blog get together back in February (or was it April?). I'm glad to see that you have your little one home to love on. I hope you enjoy being parents as much as we do. --------