It's OFFICIAL!!!!

Today we welcome a bouncing baby girl in to our family via a paperwork pregnancy and what a pregnancy it was Momma and Daddy are worn out.  We now can officially call Ivanna Patricia-Nan Stratton our daughter.  So now we are a family of six.

So today our facilitator picked us up at 8:15 a.m. and we stopped to pick up our translator then headed off to court.  Luckily the Judge was in a good mood as Nadiya had told us the day of the "L" families court she was not in a good mood at all.  We had a judge, prosecutor, secretary, social worker, orphanage director, translator and (2) members of a "jury".  WOW huh?!?!  Well she just proceeded to read through our home study and asked questions mostly to Andy where he had to stand and give an answer to our translator basically asking if we were asking anything extra of the court and if we agreed with our petition and still wanted to follow through with our petition.  Of course there was no hesitation from either of us and then she asked if I supported the decision of my husband and of course no hesitation there either.  They continued to look through our photo albums, one of GCDSS and one of our family.  Then they asked if I had any pictures of Ivanna and then they all chuckled when I pulled out another photo album, same size with photos of Ivanna in it.  They then also saw pictures of the Princess room.  They all agreed that she was a very lucky little girl.  When in fact - we feel as though we are the lucky ones. 

Then as they were reading her name and confirmed this in to order I had chills all over me.  They congratulated us as her new mommy and daddy and I said "Baseba" and the Judge just looked at me and smiled and chuckled "probably thinking crazy American can't even pronounce it right!!". 

Then we headed down to the baby house to visit Ivanna while the Translator and Facilitator went and handled some business at the Director's office and another baby house.  Our visit was great of course - when we first got there it was trying to sprinkle outside so when we went in to where Ivanna was - the workers led us to another part of the house to have our visit.  I took out a brush that we had just bought at a pharmacy to brush Ivanna's hair....surprisingly she let me brush and brush and brush her hair and even acted like she enjoyed it.  Then Daddy told her to brush mine and she did then she was not giving up the brush after that - she brushed and fixed my hair and fixed it some more and then it was Daddy's turn :D.  One of the workers brought what I think was a boiled apple in for Ivanna to eat - of course she loved it - I don't think there is anything she will turn down.  THEN our little wild child slowly started coming out of her shell.  As daddy started playing with her she got a little rambunctious and started throwing her shoes and such and yes you couldn't help but laugh at her which of course was making her worse but she will learn quickly what she is able to do and not do.  So then our facilitator came in which meant it was time for us to wrap things up.  As we were gathering up our things she took off running to the front door which she has never attempted to do before and started sreaming to the top of her lungs as I was trying to get her back inside.  So then we managed to walk her to the back where the workers and other children were.  Our facilitator began to tell the workers that we had court today and they were so excited.  Then Ivanna kept grabbing our hands and we thought it was because she wanted to swing from our hands like she normally does well, it wasn't at all, it was because she wanted to go.  So then we kissed her and said Paka and she waved and I noticed she had a strange look on her face then as I turned away I heard a worker have a strange voice and calling her name and then I heard Andy telling me she was crying --- when I turned around and her eyes were filled with tears my heart melted.  The workers told our facilitator it was the first time they had EVER seen her cry even when she would get hurt.  Broke my heart so I kissed the tears out of her eyes and they explained to her we would be back in the morning.  They said that for the last few mornings she had been going to the window and saying mama and papa and pointing to outside.  Sad but good that she is feeling a bond there. 

We haven't seen her biological parents since last Saturday they had e-mailed on Monday to say they were sick.  Hope they are feeling better.

We will bring Ivanna to the apartment with us on Monday, September 6 and then start our preparation to leave while also giving her biological parents a little time with her before we go as two families that will love her for a lifetime.

Will be posting pictures and videos soon but right now it's time for a rest as I am emotionally drained. :D  Can't wait to see her tomorrow but I don't want her to be upset when we leave I want her to understand that we will be back and soon she will leave that place for ever.

What does make this very comforting is that the workers seem to treat her well and really care for her the best they can.  I think they will miss her also as she is very smart and does things for them and to entertain them too.  She is a MESS!!  We think you all will love her just as we do.

Love you all,
The Stratton Family!