One Year Later .
365 days. We’ve been together for much longer, but we’ve been a family for one whole trip around the sun. Time has both flown and dragged on and on.
The past year has brought many changes inside our home and in the world. It’s been a year now that we’ve all been in this crazy pandemic. It’s been a year with no traveling or space which is different for us. I started a new job and Ryan works from home now. We gained a new nephew/cousin and Tripp gained a biological sister that he adores. Tripp’s brother was adopted and consequently we gained all of them as family. Tripp is no longer a small little toddler. He has grown into such a big boy. He uses full sentences and all of his baby curls are gone…which is honestly a little sad. He knows most of his letters and all of his colors. He is not a baby anymore.
Despite all the changes, some things are exactly the same. Tripp (and pup) are still the center of our world. Tripp is still a proud and protective big brother. Tripp is still so kind and sweet. I still catch myself staring at him lost in thought about how amazing he is. I still catch myself thinking it’s a dream, because I still remember how it felt hoping and praying he would be ours. I still feel so honored to be his mom. I still know that his life is an answer to so many prayers. I still tell him he is my own miracle.
I remember my husband cried that day as the judge read Tripp’s new name for the court record. Prior to that, he was only known as a case number. Ryan’s tears were of relief and pure joy. Adoption comes with so many big feelings that don’t just end on adoption day. I think we will be navigating those feelings at every new stage we enter. I’m not sure how that will play out yet.
What I do know is that 365 days later I am still the luckiest person in the world to be his mama.
I love you Tripp Kiernan. Happy forever day little boy.
