Sadie's First Gotcha Day!

Can you see what her shirt says? "It's official... I am a Shockley!"

Well, this day has been incredible! It started with Sadie waking up to all 4 of us singing "Happy Gotcha Day to you!" and lots of kisses and cuddling.

I have said this to many of you, but I have learned how to enjoy this day more with each adoption instead of fear something might go wrong.

Not that I wasn't a bit nervous this morning, but it was related to thoughts like...

Will my three year old toot during the hearing and bust out laughing?

Is someone going to jump in a huge puddle in the rain and be soaked for court?

Will my boys have a hard time keeping still and quiet during the hearing and make a scene?

I mean, it is a tough age to expect kids to not move and not talk.

But, they both were perfect gentlemen. It was little miss that started squealing, and while I thought it was completely adorable, it made me sweat thinking it might be annoying the judge.

Our judge was beyond incredible. In fact, he was the best we've had. I started crying like a baby when he made us raise our hands and vow to be Sadie's mother and father forever. It was SO COOL!

Cooper went up there with us and even raised his hand too. He told me when we were signing our final decree of adoption that he wanted to sign it too. Oh, it makes me melt just thinking of it. I had to tell him that there wasn't a "bubba" line for him to sign on. Owen was a bit nervous and stayed back with his auntie Laura.

At the end the judge told my sister (our attorney) that he had never had the pleasure of making a prosecutor cry. We all cracked up laughing and she fessed up that she was Sadie's aunt and that she normally doesn't cry in court.
Just outside of the court room. Notice Owen's shirt tail didn't stay in long!

Sadie giving her daddy a high five after court! We're pretty psyched about today baby girl!

Filing our papers in the clerks office! We're almost done sweet thing!

After court we went to lunch with the family to celebrate.

Waiting for our table at Ted's...it's a tradition that after every finalization we eat at this local mexican place. Yummy!

Owen enjoying some chips and queso with Noonie!

Little Miss got some gifts. My parents got her a Life Box.

For those adoption buddies out there, I love these! They are cool keepsake boxes that I put personal stuff about their adoption in. I have loved having these for the boys when they are asking about their adoption. We pull them out and go through pictures and gifts from their birth parents.

Cooper showing off Sadie's silver cup engraved with her new legal name and her Gotcha Day date!

After lunch our family had the pleasure of meeting Mama G for the first time. It was incredible for them to be able to love on her and thank her for her love for Sadie and her sacrifice. What a blessing!
She's totally pooped from such an exciting day! I am too! I need a nap!