Celebrating our “Gotcha Day!”

If you have ever been able to be part of an adoption process, you know just how special a “gotcha day” truly is. Although celebrated many different ways, a “gotcha day” is meant to observe the end of the adoption legal process and recognize the day a family truly becomes one.

The day our son moved in with us, we felt like a family. He quickly referred to my husband and me as “Mom and Dad,” but there was always the legal process looming over our heads in the background. Different than other adoption scenarios, there weren’t concerns of a birth mother or father coming back into the picture. However, throughout the process, we did find out there were other people that had cared for our son that felt they were best suited to raise him. We waited a long 8 months for our gotcha day. 

When the day finally arrived, we were so overwhelmed with emotions. Thankful for the opportunity to be chosen as his parents and thankful to his birth parents for making the choice to give him up for adoption. When our time arrived, our son entered the courtroom full of joy, asking innocent questions, keeping the entire courtroom in laughter. It’s funny how kids always lighten the mood. He certainly helped this momma keep it together!
 
On July 8, 2016, surrounded by most of our close family, with tear filled eyes, our dream came true. We celebrate the day, similar to a birth day, by letting our son pick a special restaurant (food is the way to his heart), and of course, a special dessert to follow. We remind him how important it is that God brought us together and made our family complete. We let him share his favorite memories from that day and we share ours. It truly is something special. If you’re ever able to be a part of someone’s “gotcha day”, I hope it’s just as memorable of an experience.
Traci Pecot
NOLA born and raised, Traci moved to Lafayette in 2005 to pursue a career in corporate marketing. She married her husband Ryan in 2010 and adopted her son, now 8, in 2016. Today, along with being a full time mom, she owns and operates a dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility in Lafayette. She and her husband maintain a part-time residence in NOLA, spending weekends "home" visiting family and friends. Avid sports fan, dog obsessed, wanna be distance runner (finishing just one half-marathon), and adoption enthusiast, she looks forward to adding "blog contributor" to her lists of accomplishments.