Baby D's NEW name and adoption update!

I know I haven't posted any updates in awhile, but life's been sort of busy! Since D's mom relinquished her rights back in February we've just been coasting along in the adoption process...by that I mean filling out paperwork, having home study's redone, having adoption worker come to home repeatedly, more paperwork, calling attorneys, and finally more paperwork;) 

However, we are almost DONE!

We had 'disclosure' yesterday morning where you sign a bunch of papers basically and then they give you this 100+ packet of papers listing everything that's happened(that they know of) since your child came into custody and as much(or little in our case) history they have on bio family. Ours had 68 pages of the 'unknown' box checked lol. Very informative let me tell you.

Next step is meeting with attorney next week and then setting up our court hearing to finalize. Our attorney said we should finalize in August!!! It's perfect because that is his birthday month, so we are coming full circle! 

With disclosure comes the time to give them your child's new legal name. We have discussed changing his name since he was placed with us 1.5 yrs ago, but today we had to decide once and for all. As with everything we have had many support the decision to change his name and a few who didn't understand.....in the end he is (almost) our child and we feel this is the best decision. Potentially for safety reasons and it's a parents right and joy to choose their child's name! I also, of course love how God gave people a new name in the Bible signifying the were a new person with a new identity---the old has gone the new has come!

Since Valentines day 2013(placement day) most of you have known him as just 'D' standing for Deasean(De-Sean) Tyirell.

Now to be known as Sean Marshall Long. 

Still to be known as big 'D' on occasion because that's a nickname that will probably stick around for a little while:)

We had shortened Deasean to Sean quite some time ago, so that is the name he knows and we have decided to keep it. 

Little did we know---Sean means 'God is gracious'. 

That could not be more true for the indescribable gift of a son that God has given us! Thank you all for your prayers throughout this entire process.

Sean Marshall LONG...last name has a nice ring to it for this momma:)