Ella's Finalization Day

I woke up today full of emotion because today was our girlies finalization day! 

Exactly two years ago we started the process and finally today Ella will be an official Love.
My cup overfloweth!

We all waited until it was our turn to go into the courtroom. As you can see we had a lot of support from family and friends. It was a party!!

It's our turn! Let's go!

 Ella was not feeling so great today. She has an ear infection and a lot of congestion. She is not a complainer but she was a little grumpy today. This is the first time she has been sick the whole nine months she has been home with us.

So everyone is ready! Until Nat leans over to tell me that Ella had filled her diaper. She did more than fill! It was a major blowout!  It was on Nat's suit coat and tie. Oh my was it bad! Emergency!

Just as they were saying "All rise" as the judge was coming in I had to run out with her. How embarrassing! 

My two dear friends, Katy and Brittany, ran out with me thank goodness!  Katy is my take charge friend and so glad she was there to help. Brittany, my personal photographer friend, just could not resist a picture of this mess. It took all three of us to get her cleaned up. A moment I will never forget!  So much for the cute tights!

All clean now! So let's try this one more time!

"All Rise"

One of my favorite parts was that she included the boys. She called Nathaniel's name and asked him if he had anything he wanted to add. He got embarrassed and froze, Then she asked him if he thought this was a good thing and he shook his head yes. 

Yay! After the judge declared her our daughter she invited us up to the stand with her.

She likes to give the new adoptee a gift. Ella got to pick between a cute teddy bear and a Shrek. Guess what she chose!

Hilarious! It looks like we photoshopped Shrek into our pictures. 

Judge Huddleston let Ella take charge in her chair and the boys got to hold the gavel. They thought that was pretty cool! 

Then Judge Huddleston allowed Ella to sign her own finalization papers.

I am telling you... this girl did not want to leave that stand. She was throughly enjoying having control of the courtroom and the pen! Whew! I took her out with her back arched in tears.

We are so thankful that most of the family was able to make it for her special day!

Thanks Brittany for capturing this special time on camera for us. Your the best!

Afterwards we went to Mariah's for lunch with the whole gang. 

This is the ultimate Christmas gift! I am so thankful that for the first time I feel my family is complete!

"God knows there's a right time for everything, and that some things are sweeter when they're slow in coming."