Why I love 2009!

I love 2009 because this is the year that Elizabeth's adoption will become FINAL! No more social workers (although all the ones I've dealt with have been very nice), and best of all, no more insecurity that Elizabeth won't really be with me forever. For those of you who don't know, about a year before Elizabeth, I was a foster mom to a little girl Molly, from the time she was 2 days old to 6 months. I think I've mentioned it before on this blog. It was a really, really wonderful, intense experience, but pretty devastating when she left, even though I knew the whole time it would only be temporary. I decided after that that I couldn't go through that again, so I applied to the adoption program. I know that Elizabeth is not going anywhere, but I still have this little irrational fear that something will go wrong and she'll be taken from me. Even though I signed those adoption placement papers a couple of weeks ago, until our court date (hopefully in March) she is still legally a dependent of the court. I just want the county out of our lives! Nothing personal against anyone who has worked with us, but I just want us to be just us, with no strings attached, if that makes any sense. Once the adoption is final, her legal name will actually be Elizabeth! Until then, legally, her name is still the name her birth mom gave her when she was born. I have made that her middle name. I can't wait until this is all over, so welcome 2009- and hurry up, March!