It's Katelynn Day

I got an email this morning saying "Happy Katelynn Day." It sounds good to me, so from now on every February 9th should be Katelynn Day!

The story: Today we left for Seattle at 11. We had lunch at Pagliacci's Pizza in Capital Hill, which has become our tradition on days we go to our agency. At 1 we went to Amara where we had to fill out some paperwork and then we waited for Katelynn's birthmom to arrive. She was about a little late so we sat around talking with her mother (Katelynn's grandma). After she arrived, Katelynn's birthmom spent some time talking with the birthparent counselor, and then at about 2:30 we caravaned to the receiving home where Katelynn has been staying for the past seven weeks.

Katelynn was in the back bedroom when we got there. Katelynn's birthmom, grandma, and aunt spent some time with Katelynn. Then her birthmom got a few minutes by herself with Katelynn. Finally at a little after 3, she came out of the bedroom with Katelynn in her arms. I stood up and she handed her to me, and we both started crying. Camera's started flashing everywhere and it was like we were movie stars or something. Tucker and I got to hold her for a bit, and then we took a bunch of pictures and passed Katelynn around for one more round with the receiving home parents and birthfamily. All in all, it went really well. It felt like a great hour to mark both the sorrow and joy represented by this day.

Around 3:30 we got Katelynn situated in her car seat and Tucker carried her out to the car. A few more photos and hugs later, we were on our way home with Tucker in the driver's seat (an unusual event for us) and me in the backseat with my little girl.

The car ride home.

Hanging out with mom.

First bottle at home with dad.

I can hardly believe that she is actually here. A great day for sure. The day that I became a mom. The day that we became parents. Katelynn, I'm so glad that you are home.