Re-adoption completed today & 4th of July

Today is a very special day - We received legal paperwork that says that Huong Thi Nguyen from Thai Nguyen, VN is now called Ava Linh Crowningshield from NY, USA! This morning we had a formal hearing in a courtroom where all paperwork was signed and verbal affirmations were given to conclude that we are able to legally use Ava as her name and we will receive a NY birth certificate with mine and my husbands name listed as her parents. We just have a few more steps in the adoption process - apply for a social security card, apply for a name change on her COC, and apply for a US Passport with Ava Linh, US Citizen, daughter of Meg & Kurt on all documents. We had a few guests attend the hearing and take pictures - Grandma Belva, Great-Grandma Fran and Great-Aunt Cathy. After the hearing and pictures we headed to Denny's for breakfast. Ava was a perfect little girl during the hearing and at breakfast. She liked hearing her voice echo in the court room so she spoke baby language through most of the hearing - people just laughed, including the very stern looking police man. She slept for a while at Denny's and then sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time and very nicely ate her cheerios and played with straws.

Another milestone this weekend, July 4th to be exact, was that she walked on her own (three steps) and of course she did it in front of several family members who were together celebrating the 4th so we have lots of witnesses. Ava has two teeth - one on top and one on the bottom - she has figured out how to grind her two teeth and it gives me chills...

We are so blessed to have such a good, healthy, and I must say adorable little girl!