I think I might have figured this out finally.

Posting a video that is...enjoy.

Shazam!!!

As of 2:45 this afternoon, Violet's birth father's parental rights were terminated!
As of 12:30 this afternoon, we have officially had both of our post placement visits!
Other than one last court date that is basically a formality, Violet is ALL OURS!!!!!!
No more legal mumbo jumbo. No more worries about whether or not the birth parents can take her back. No more wondering. She is OURS!!!!!!
Yeeee Haw! and WHEW!
It is amazing how heavy that weight was, even though we knew it was unlikely the birth dad would come and claim her. Fortunately, I didn't know when his rights were being terminated until I met our counselor for lunch today that it was this afternoon. I love the instant gratification of THAT!
And for your viewing pleasure...Sweet new Violet photos. In the past few days, she has started to babble a lot more, will giggle that crazy baby giggle when we tickle her, and is just amazingly happy. Look at that smile.

Pumpkin Carving Party

We had a great time at the party yesterday...here is a photo of most of the pumpkins carved...I think this was after Ayla (4) took hers away...it was the most amazing alien. Violet had a great time until it got dark and we were looking at the lit jack-o-lanterns and she had a melt down. Sigh, she just doesn't dig the dark. Auntie Andee gave her a fun ghost hat and a cool 3-d haunted house book. She was the bell of the ball! We are fortunate to have a bunch of friends who love having a baby around. (The spooky guy in the back is Don Evans, he and his wife Sheryl were the hosts of the party...Don is emeritus faculty at Vandy who retired the year before I came to Nashville.) Oh, Ken carved our pumpkins while I did mommy duty (mostly he does them because pumpkin goo makes my hands burn). Ours are in the front row, the two on the left.