My heart is so full it's hard to speak. We have adopted a baby girl. We were honored and privileged to be asked by her luminous birthmother and her gentle birthfather to attend her birth. That moment, and the four days we spent in a hospital room with them and their family and friends were the most incredible, and humbling, of my entire life. This baby was born into the most beautiful circle of people I can possibly imagine, and both Andy and I are in continuous awe of their tremendous strength, courage, and incredible love. Our gratitude is boundless. Her birthgrandfather took this picture of Mt. Hood at sunrise on the morning of her birth. It made me cry when I saw it on his camera, and it makes me cry now to look at it again. It is a symbol of an auspicious beginning.
Amelia Jolene Beatrix Paulson
October 14, 2012, at 5:42 p.m.
8 pounds, 3 ounces; 20 inches
Welcome, welcome, welcome dear, sweet, precious, exquisite, wonderful, wonder-full Amelia. I love you more than I can say.
totally awesome. congratulations!
Posted by: meg zaletel | October 18, 2012 at 05:34 PM
I am so incredibly happy for you. Congratulations!!! Welcome to the World and a wonderful life Amelia!!
Posted by: Katherine | October 18, 2012 at 05:35 PM
Congratulations Mom!!! And Dad!!
Posted by: diana | October 18, 2012 at 05:37 PM
Over flowing with love and happiness for all. Congratulations.
Posted by: Leianna | October 18, 2012 at 05:39 PM
And so it begins......many congratulations to you! My heart is lighter now! She is so beautiful, and beautifully named. Love.
Posted by: Amy | October 18, 2012 at 05:40 PM
I am so very happy for all of you. I almost cried out when I read this post. Heartfelt congratulations to everyone!!
Posted by: joanna | October 18, 2012 at 05:41 PM
I am so happy for you! I saw the title of the post in my feed reader and thought, "oh I hope this means a baby!" Hooray it is. Miss Amelia shares my birthday, a charmed day to be born, in my experience. Congratulations to you and Andy.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | October 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM
She is beautiful I am so excited for you both. You will be wonderful parents
Posted by: Valerie | October 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM
I am so, so, so happy for you! Sending much love! <3
Posted by: Lauren | October 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM
Congratulations, my eyes welled with tears of happiness for you when I read this.
Posted by: Deborah | October 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM
What a sweet, sweet baby, Congratulations!
Posted by: Christine O'Neil | October 18, 2012 at 05:43 PM
oh. my. blessings to all of you!!! so happy....
Posted by: colleen | October 18, 2012 at 05:43 PM
I cried reading your post :) Amelia is beautiful! Warmest congratulations to all of you!
Posted by: Julie M | October 18, 2012 at 05:44 PM
I am so happy for you both, she is so beautiful! I don't comment often, but have been praying and hoping for you:)
Posted by: Kate | October 18, 2012 at 05:45 PM
What a beautiful baby! What beautiful parents!
Posted by: Ricka | October 18, 2012 at 05:45 PM
Oh I am so happy for you!! Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!
Posted by: Barb | October 18, 2012 at 05:45 PM
Welcome Amelia.
I have the most wonderful tears in my eyes for all of you right now.
Posted by: peanut | October 18, 2012 at 05:45 PM
So incredibly happy for you. Just wonderful. Laughing at myself for crying for a stranger right now, but wow, congratulations from a little family homestead right below that magnificent mountain.
Posted by: Danielle G | October 18, 2012 at 05:47 PM
Congratulations! Amelia is absolutely beautiful and so lucky to have such wonderful adoptive and birth families. I'm so, so happy for you and Andy! Hurray!
Posted by: Nicole | October 18, 2012 at 05:48 PM
Congratulations!!!! what a blessed little girl to have you as parents.
Posted by: Dee | October 18, 2012 at 05:48 PM
Oh, my, how wonderful. Congratulations Mom and Dad! What fantastic parents you will be, what a special life you will all have together!
Posted by: michele(maryland) | October 18, 2012 at 05:48 PM
Warmest wishes to you! What a precious gift!
Christina
Posted by: Christina | October 18, 2012 at 05:48 PM
So beyond happy for you and your family! Congratulations!
Posted by: Verelle | October 18, 2012 at 05:49 PM
Congratulations to all three of you :) Such wonderful news, such a sweet face and beautiful name. I'm so happy for you!
Posted by: Amy | October 18, 2012 at 05:49 PM
It's crazy how happy I am for you and Andy - I feel like my best friends just had their dreams come true. All from reading a blog. Congratulations and the best of luck and love to your completed family! She looks beautiful.
Posted by: Ann | October 18, 2012 at 05:50 PM