It's a boy!

As you know, our little Isabella came to us via Adoption some four years ago. Last October, Pamela and I finally got our act together to get "back in the book" to be eligible. No nibbles for 11 months, and we started getting ready to re-up our adoption eligibility for another year.

Thursday AM, I packed Pamela off to a spa in Arizona. Thursday NIGHT, I got a call: A baby had been born, the birthmom had picked US from the Adoption book, and are we interested? Several hours of panicked attempts to reach Pamela ensued. She was enjoying the desert, the dinner, the skies... her Cellphone didn't work out there, and she hadn't been to her room... Finally at 10:15, she called, and we decided to move forward.

Friday we got a little more information: a boy, 6lbs 9oz, 20" long, healthy, mixed race (1/4 african american, 3/4 caucasian). The mom is 18, and is VERY firm that adoption is what she wants. Both Pamela and I spoke with the Birthmom, and she was very sweet. By Friday night, we knew this was going to happen.

Today, Pamela got an early flight (3 days early)... Northwest was relatively helpful in rebooking her. The Spa was wonderful - they let Pamela out of her reservation without any penalty and heartily wished her luck.



Pamela wasn't due to get home until 5pm, and discharge was NOON today. Fortunately, Isabella was with Grampette, and Dad came with me, chauffeuring the Jag. We picked him up in the same room of the same hospital we got Isabella at almost 4 years earlier. While I waited for Pamela's flight to arrive, people came and visited us, and I had a very nice hour of napping with him on my chest - it was like a dream.

When Pamela and Bella came home, I got to see BOTH of their reactions at once, and it was fantastic! Bella took to the boy immediately, insisting on holding and feeding him, she pushed his bassinet into her room, and kept watch on him until her eyelids finally gave way to gravity. I think she is really loving this. Pamela has now taken the boy on her lap as she calls friends and family.

We don't have a name for him yet, but we're working on it. And given the way adoption works, there is some risk for 1-2 months where the birthparents can change their minds, but after we weather that, it'll be totally done. For that reason, we're not saying that this boy is a "baby brother" to Bella: We're saying that we're "babysitting" until things get finalized.

So that's what I've been up to this weekend!