To my son and daughter,

After 4.5 years it’s finally happening. Our house will be filled with the laughter of young humans.

Today is move in day.

The day when the three of us become the five of us.

It hasn’t been an easy journey to motherhood. We’ve spent the equivalent of a university education on IVFs, IUIs and donor eggs. We spent money on private adoption thinking we’d meet you sooner. We were approved in October 2022 only to be rerouted by a broken system.

After being matched with our third worker we painfully watched as everything expired and we had to begin again. By this past April our spirits were defeated, our hearts tired and our relationship weathered.

But then we read your profile. And there was an inkling deep down. Unconsciously, we just knew.

All good things are waiting for. It doesn’t really matter how we got here. What’s important is that we are here.

That you are here now.

From the moment you came running towards us yelling “hi new Mommy, hi new Daddy” with the biggest smiles and hugs at our first visit two weeks ago we loved you. In fact, we started loving you a long time ago.

And oh how we love everything about you!

Our sweet boy, we love how curious you are, how much you adore trucks and the colour green, how silly you think Mommy is, and how imaginative you are in play.

Our darling girl, we love how articulate you are, how much you love the colour pink and purple, how you want to tie your hair up in a bun like Daddy, and how adventurous and bold you are.

We love how excited you are about your new bedrooms and your reaction when you learned you’ll be living close to the beach. We love that you enjoy dancing, music and playing outside as these are some of our favourite things. We love that you asked Daddy if he can teach you paddling and if Mommy can teach you how to ride a bike.

We love how cute you think Chevy is and how you called him your new puppy before even meeting him.

We’re nervous and anxious. Happy and overwhelmed. We know you are too. But we will navigate these feelings – and life – together.

There’s going to be joyous moments and difficult ones. There will be hope and sadness. There will be happy days and some where we don’t even want to get out of bed. You will be strong at times and scared sometimes but so will we. No matter the emotion or situation we are going to love and protect you.

We are also going to learn from you. You’re leading us into a season of life that we have tried and advocated for. What has felt like forever, over fifty months to be exact, has come together so quickly in the past twelve weeks.

Three months ago you were a file number on a piece of paper. Now you’re our son and daughter. I haven’t had the chance to process all of this. I’m still in a surreal haze but I’m very much present and you are very real.

This morning your Daddy took Chevy for a walk to the park nearby to see where you’ll play and I sat watching the sun rise while writing this letter. Your rooms are ready, our arms are open and we feel at peace knowing that we will do everything we can to raise you in a safe place.

Daddy, Chevy and I will be sitting on the front stoop of your new home this afternoon to welcome you. The waiting is over. As you both said on the weekend while cuddling in bed, “we are a happy family.”

My wonderful wildlings, you’ve already expanded my heart and changed my life. It’s such an honour to have been chosen as your mother. I’m elated to get to do life as a party of five.

See you real soon then.

Mad love,

Mommy xoxo

PS. You have no idea how much you’re loved already – you have an entire village quietly waiting to embrace you and help us raise you.