I'm in the middle of a visit with the Munchkin and family. We actually just drove home (their home; not Ohio) from North Carolina. Why were we there? I'll talk about that tomorrow.

This is the big birthday visit. This time of year is so thick with memories that I can't turn around without running into one or another. It's hard. It's overwhelming. Sometimes it's nice.

In the car this evening, before the sunset and all heck broke loose, J and I were talking about the day that the Munchkin was born. It's nice that other people weren't under the influence of pain and/or pain medication and can therefore remember, with clarity, the line of events on that day. I have bits and pieces... more

Today I am thankful that J & D have always gone about their life with the Munchkin with the motto that honesty is the best policy. Beside the Munchkin's bed she has a picture of me, pregnant with the Munchkin, and D together, taken just after the only ultrasound I had during that pregnancy. Even though it's a horrid picture of me (seriously), D refuses to take it down because she wants the Munchkin to understand that she grew in my tummy. They've always been open and honest about... more

The flight was delayed by an hour and a half. JD has thrown up exorcist style. And we keep forgetting things at Walmart. But so far? Well, you be the judge:

For the next two visits, J & D and the Munchkin drove out to good ole Ohio. One visit was between six and seven months of age and the next visit fell around nine or ten months of age. For both of these visits, the family stayed with us.

The June visit was fun in itself. This time I wasn't in so much shock about a little visual Mini-Me being in the same room as I was, so I was able to concentrate on building my relationship with J & D. We did some fun shopping, of course, because that is what D and I... more

The Munchkin was just around four months when we had our first visit. Josh and I drove to J & D's home, getting lost as we tried to find their street and house. I remember walking in the front door and seeing the Munchkin, for the first time since I had left the hospital, taking a nap on her playmat on the floor. I remember kneeling down before her, very quietly, amazed by her growth in size and beauty. Picking her up for the first time in four months was another moment of strange and wonderful emotions. My heart... more

Before I launch into a picture heavy couple of posts about the history of our visits, I thought I should give you D's view on our visits so that you understand that, in our adoption, they're not just one-sided. So, I asked D some questions, she gave some answers and I present them to you as one adoptive Mom's view on visits in open adoption.

As I mentioned, I initially thought J had flipped his cork when he mentioned visiting post-placement.... more