Why I’m Happy It Is A New Year

There are many many many many things that made 2011 absolutely fabulous…

Seeing a photo of my children for the first time

Meeting my daughter for the first time

Hearing my daughter tell me I was her forever Mummy

Seeing my children reunited for a 2 hour visit and knowing in the depths of my soul I would never let them be apart again

Squealing as I heard the words it was definitely going ahead

Spending a weekend with my daughter, being allowed a short visit with her brother, crying as he left, praying it would all work out

Getting permission to have both children for a weekend

Traveling home with my daughter in August

Spending our first month together, getting to know each other

My son arriving in September

Watching my children hold hands whatever chance they got in those early days

Hearing my son say words for the first time, when everyone said he would never be able to say them (he now rocks the “sh” and “sk” sounds!)

Seeing the worrying behaviours in my daughter dissipate when surrounded by love, understanding, boundaries and healthy relationships

Hearing my son learn his last name and how old he is, things no one taught him because they didn’t think he was capable of learning!

Jumping with joy when both children reached the 5% on the growth charts {it took a lot of work!}

Hearing my daughter speak in more complicated sentences, a real challenge if you have a language processing special need. My how her ability to articulate her thoughts has come along!

Seeing my children show great signs of attachment towards me {though I firmly believe the attachment experts who say it will take 1-2 years for them to fully trust this is forever}

Seeing my children form our village, I’m so glad they are insightful enough to know who they want in it and I am beyond pleased and thankful that those people have said yes.

Getting reminders of how far my children have come {every time we go to someone’s house I’m amazed at just how well they are progressing, though still needing a lot of direction – lets just say, attending a small gathering last night was exhausting!}

A brand new job in 2011 which I looooooooooooove

Meeting some of the most amazing people in 2011, courtesy of the new job, and realizing despite on the surface a new job seeming like a bad idea {less pay, longer commute} He knew just what He was doing considering what was about to happen {motherhood to two!}

But 2011 was also a year…

I said good-bye

Other people made decisions for my children which were NOT in their best interest (and we are left dealing with the after effects)

People were allowed to have a presence in my children’s lives even though it is unhealthy

Adoption costs spiralled out of control….!

My children had to live the first 8 and 9 months of the year without a forever family and with decisions being made for them which were unforgiveable.

In 2012, God willing, our adoption of each other (as I like to refer to it) will be complete. I’m hoping for an early court date without complication (realistically it will probably happen in May or June) . In 2012 there will be no months my children will be waiting, hoping, praying for a family and not a single night that they are missing each other and hoping the other is OK.

Last night the Godparents did a NY dessert which included 12 grapes on a stick, one to represent each month in 2012. As I sat there, I quietly wiped away the tears knowing each month in 2012 we will be together, as a family.

Welcome, welcome, welcome 2012!