About a month ago we had another first for our family - our first (of hopefully many) visit with Lilleth's birthmom and birth great grandmother. It was natural. It was sweet. It was amazing. Since the beginning of this adoption journey, which coincidentally began in early March of 2010 (just one year ago!), I wondered about how a visit like this would go down. Would I be nervous? Would it be uncomfortable? I mean how does a visit so filled with emotion begin and end? Well, all I can say is it just does and it just did.
We spent the weekend in Washington and had a blast exploring Olympia, vintage clothes shopping, drinking coffee, eating great Mexican food and spending time with our extended family.
Seeing Lilleth with her birthmom was so sweet. I imagine it was like looking in a mirror for Lilleth - seeing where she gets her eyes and nose from. Similar for her birthmom, I saw the spark in her eyes when she looked at how beautiful and happy Lilleth is, a sense of relief and excitement that we really are committed to her and this new "family" and of course a bit of sadness, which I cannot even comment on or know how to write about. But all in all our visit was so natural, kind of like going to your cousin's house for a birthday. It was really evident that we are all working to figure this thing out and open to experiencing it with open and honest communication and a little bit of humor.
I really am looking forward to future visits - watching and supporting Lilleth as she builds a relationship with her birthmom. I also look forward to continuing to build my relationship with Lilleth's birthmom, she is fun to be around and I can't wait to see what she is going to accomplish in the coming years.
Wow. It is so cool and impressive that you guys are building a relationship with the birth mom. What a gift--but incredibly tricky thing--for all involved. You guys are awesome. What a testament to how hugely open you have made your hearts.
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