1/25/03 - Yesterday Andy and I met the baby girl who may become our daughter and the baby sister that Benjamin has suddenly decided he wants. Her social worker called her Sydney, but we think her name will be Janelle Sojourner, as we seem to be devoted to complicated names. However, right now I'm most comfortable calling her Baby Girl, not feeling a sense of entitlement yet although this adoption is extremely likely to happen. She is a beautiful, sweet, serious little child who has already faced a lot of challenges in her three short months, and more to come. We have every confidence in her.
Click on an image to see the big picture.
I remember this now - it is a very good feeling.
The Baby Power salute.
The closest thing to a smile we saw. She has a serious, even worried expression that nothing but Benjamin is likely to overcome.
Baby Girl.
1/29/03 - Today Benjamin met Janelle for the first time. He is very proud of his "baby sister" and visited with her for an impressive while before running off to play with foster mom's kids and their toys.
Getting to know her.
Sleepy baby does what she does best.
A proud new family.
Here are some photos of Janelle with her foster family.
2/10/03 - Adoption day! Today we drove to Janelle's foster home as a threesome for the last time. We played with the baby, signed a lot of papers, and came home a foursome. What an exciting blur of a day. I sort of remember stopping at Baja Fresh for Benjamin's sake (and ours - we hadn't eaten all day) and trying to remember how to warm up a bottle. Fortunately, we got that figured out pretty quickly. Now we are a family.
Benjamin turns out to be a stunningly good big brother. He's very proud of his baby sister and his own status, and likes to help feed her, play with her, talk to her, hold her, and help her with her pacifier when she cries. I'm not sure how to tell him that she doesn't really like the pacifier all that much, and certainly not sticking into her nose, but he's doing such a grand job otherwise. Right now, he and Andy are goofing around downstairs, and Janelle is watching from her baby swing and laughing. Laughing!
I said Benjamin would break through all that worry and care, didn't I?
Sibling triptych.
For three-plus years, we managed to avoid taking cute Benjamin to a photo studio - we love amateur photos! - but somehow with Janelle we were compelled. Her feet will never be this tiny and adorable again. Sure, they'll keep being adorable all the same.
They told us, take photos while the babies sleep. Oh, that's sleep while the babies sleep? Oops, no wonder we're so tired.
Surrounded by boys at Nancy's house: Benjamin, Noah and Manny.
With Siobhan Wolf.
Our happy family.
Brother and sister.
With Sheena at the surprise shower party our church family threw for baby Janelle.
April 15, 2003 - six months old!
Janelle was baptised at the Easter Vigil Mass, April 19, 2003 at our church, Holy Rosary - St. John. Father Dennis presided, and godparents Victoria and Anthony stood up for Janelle on this most holy and beautiful of nights.
With Gummy Ingraham.
Benjamin and Janelle with Ma, April 2003.
Benjamin is serene but Janelle is ready for lunch.
Playing with cool big brother, summer 2003.
Her usual way with shoes.
Standing on her own two! November 2003.
Not enough Janelle? You can look at our family page to watch her grow!
More photos of Janelle and some of her friends can be found on the Interracial Families in Friendship web site. IFIF is an informal sharing group bringing together central Ohio families who are interracial by adoption.
