Yesterday was my due date. I'd been trying not to think about Sammy and I'd been failing miserably. I went for a long walk.
When I get back around 11am, the Mister is on the phone with the adoption agency. There is a baby boy, born on January 1. His birthmom has chosen us. We have an hour to decide whether to drive to the next state to get the baby. We are packed and ready to go by the time the social worker calls us back for our decision. Cat care arranged, dog ready to be dropped at the kennel, bags packed, all systems go.
We are surprised when it starts to snow. The journey becomes stressful -- scary, yet mythic. I am on the phone most of the time, calling friends and relatives so that if everything goes to hell, my support system will be ready. My maid of honor screams and laughs. My MIL bursts into tears and drops the phone. The word spreads and our phones ring. Hours later, our little car almost doesn't make it up the hill to the birthing center. The tires spin. We arrive. The agency social worker takes us right to him, asks us if we've brought a car seat. Things are clearly moving fast here.
He is stunning. Dark hair, brown eyes, sweet face, long skinny legs but tiny -- 5 pounds 11 ounces at birth. He has been the only baby there for several days, so the nurses have been spoiling him rotten. His birthmom is small, wise, funny. She's young and has already led a very difficult life. She's managed to keep her pregnancy a secret from everyone she knows. We're amazed and so sad for her. She says she picked us because we seemed "fun" compared to the other couples. This strikes us as hilarious. She tells us story after story while we listen with all our might, sucking up every bit of information we possibly can.
The snow deepens. The nurses teach us to care for the baby and shower us in bags of gifts -- blankets, sleepers, diapers, formula. The social worker shuttles back and forth with paperwork. More stories. Tears.
Long after midnight, the Mister and I take the baby in for a final goodbye. Everyone crumbles, and we slink out, feeling like criminals as the birthmother sobs into a towel. The snow is deep. We have no idea where we are. It takes nearly an hour to make our way a few miles to a hotel. The baby is up most of the rest of the night. When he sleeps, the Mister snores. I lie awake, thinking of names. The name we had in mind doesn't fit this baby at all. He demands a name chosen just for him.
We can't leave the state until we have legal permission. We stop to pick up bottles, baby lotion, other essentials. We drive to a hotel at the border. We sit and wait. Phone calls and emails flood in. Friends offer to send us gently used clothing. Others promise to bring a bassinet. It's been a long day. For the moment, the baby sleeps on the Mister's shoulder.
Maybe I will sleep too.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am SO excited for you.
Posted by: Heather | January 06, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Happy New Year indeed!!! I've got tears in my eyes for you three. I'm so happy.
What a missed due date. I know it doesn't take away the pain of the last year, I think it is good to mark it.
I'm sending my twin a massive amount of love. xoxoxoxoxoxox
p.s. Thank you so much for the update, it must be a very hectic time.
Posted by: Almamay | January 06, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Congratulations to you and your family! What a way to start the year.
Posted by: BrooklynGirl | January 06, 2009 at 05:47 AM
Oh, oh, oh, oh! I'm sobbing! I choked on the oatmeal I was eating, and my husband rushed over, thinking it was bad. but oh, no,nothing could be better! I am so, so amazed that you found him right around your due date! And that he was born on my due date!!!!!!!!! Do, please, email me at arossi@aces.edu and please send me your mailing address. I want to send you something! Oh Rebeccah, congratulations! I'm so very happy for you and the Mister.
Posted by: Fiddle1 | January 06, 2009 at 06:49 AM
Oh my God!!! How absolutely wonderful! So many wonderful wishes are heading to you, the Mister and your new little one. Congratulations!
Posted by: Mrs. X | January 06, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Goosebumps. What an amazing, serendipitous, heartstoppingly beautiful event. I am over the moon for you and your family (your beautiful little boy!!). 2009 is shaping up to be a damn good year! I will be stalking you for more, more, more information!
Posted by: Melanie | January 06, 2009 at 07:36 AM
Quite a day! Congratulations!!!
Hope you can all go home soon.
Posted by: Baby Smiling In Back Seat | January 06, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Wow. As soon as I saw the blurb on the LFCA, I started crying for you... actually reading your post has me bawling my eyes out.
There just are no words.
Posted by: Carrie | January 06, 2009 at 08:59 AM
Um.....Your a MOMMY!!! What a great start to a new year! A New Years baby! Thats amazing news on so many levels. Congratulations on your new baby boy. He's the lucky one.
Posted by: Natika | January 06, 2009 at 09:02 AM
This is so wonderful and so wonderfully put. And the timing, with your loss segueing into your new life as parents, is pure poetry.
Many congrats and much joy with your new family member!
Posted by: shinejil | January 06, 2009 at 09:12 AM
This is so wonderful and so wonderfully put. And the timing, with your loss segueing into your new life as parents, is pure poetry.
Many congrats and much joy with your new family member!
Posted by: shinejil | January 06, 2009 at 09:12 AM
oh my, rebeccah, how very wonderful! I want to say holy crap(!) but somehow that doesn't seem fitting. it all just sounds so wonderful.
and wow, way to be "ready!"
many congratulations on your new life as parents! enjoy each other.
Posted by: luna | January 06, 2009 at 09:35 AM
and yes, I agree the timing and convergence is all so very poetic and auspicious. a new year's baby! chosen for you on your edd. amazing!
Posted by: luna | January 06, 2009 at 09:36 AM
OH!!!! So so so so thrilled & excited & overjoyed for you guys. Oh honey- what a beautiful and perfect way to start the new year. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Posted by: Calliope | January 06, 2009 at 09:37 AM
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JerseyGirl | January 06, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Congratulations! God bless your new son.
Posted by: Leah | January 06, 2009 at 09:48 AM
Congratulations - that is truly fantastic news. What an amazing start to 2009!
Posted by: nh | January 06, 2009 at 10:00 AM
This is such incredibly wonderful news! I am so, so happy for you. I hope you are having a wonderful first few days together as a family.
Posted by: Rachel | January 06, 2009 at 10:12 AM
OMG! I have a tear going down my cheek! Congratulations. 2009 is pretty good so far.
Posted by: Chrstina | January 06, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Oh my goodness. I've never commented so am a COMPLETE stranger but just as COMPLETELY thrilled for you as a bff would be. This is just the most wonderful surprise and I am so happy for you! What an amazing new year.
Posted by: Mar | January 06, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Oh Congratulations a thousand times! Your post brings tears to my eyes though I don't even know you... came over from Mel's L&F. So happy for you!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 06, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Oh my gosh, this story made me cry!! I'm here from L&F and this is really what I needed to hear today. I have a friend having all sort of trouble with her baby, and a happy adoption story is always the right stuff. (We have a domestically adopted daughter and an IVF son.)
:)
Posted by: JessPond | January 06, 2009 at 12:13 PM
oh what a lovely story, congratulations!
Posted by: Thalia | January 06, 2009 at 12:23 PM
OH my this is AWESOME NEWS! I am so thrilled for you guys - when I wished your dreams to come true on your last post, I had no idea it would be so quickly!
WOO HOO, congrats to you, mom and dad!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sherry | January 06, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Congratulations! Found you on Lost and Found...
Wishing you the best as you begin this awesome journey of motherhood! It really is the BEST!
Posted by: mama2roo | January 06, 2009 at 02:16 PM