 When I was eight years old, my family went to India with the intention to adopt a little boy, and for whatever reason they decided against it and they came home and found out they were pregnant and ever since I was eight years old, I knew that this was something I wanted to do. It's something we talked about like before we even engaged and it just made total sense to me. You submitted an application and then we went through six weeks of training and then we had to write this very extensive profile about our lives. We went to events where there was children waiting and there was other social workers and it was at that event that we met KV on social worker. I remember exactly. I was just looking at the email that Rashida sent us with KV on his picture. We we sat down in a little restaurant and we looked at the picture and we were talking about it a little bit and we're like This is the one. Yeah. Yeah, and it was really from that moment onwards. We were completely in love with him. We just saw KV on his foster mom and in true informed. She's lovely and amazing and she was so happy to see us and she told us that, you know, we'll come back in an hour and she'll be ready with him and now we're gonna pick up our baby. Nervousness? Do you have brother play? She's amazing. She's so wonderful. We can't say enough about her and leaving her, you know, she's raised her son. Like leaving her yesterday was very emotional for all of us because she has been the only mom he's ever known. It was so clear that KV had made an amazing impression on them. He has been so loved since he was just a baby from by his teachers, by his foster family, by his extended family, his neighbors, his community and we're so grateful, just so grateful and we want to really make sure we continue those relationships in his life. Okay, everybody all set? Wani family's ready to go? We are ready to go. They've loved him. They love him so much. Lila is fitting right back into being a big sister. Neum is learning how to be a brother to another brother. That's interesting. And I can already see like in the first two days that he just brings us so much joy. He definitely doesn't listen to us. No, no, don't touch it. He is a riot. For us, it's always been about the fact that we're actually so honored and privileged to have him join us. All the choices in his life up until this point have been made for him. By his foster mom, by his social worker, by our social worker, by us. And I hope that when he grows up and as he grows up, that we've done enough for him to want to choose us back. I just hope we can be the best possible parents for it. Because we love him so much. And our family is only more blessed because he's joined it. That's right. That's what I want him to always know is that our family is more complete because he's part of it. Today is September 29th and today is gotcha day. Because we're gonna gotcha at Kavion. We've been waiting for this day for a very long time. Kavion has been a big part of our family for the last year and now it is permanent and we're so happy about it. He's so awesome. Kavi, when you watch this video, know that you're awesome and we love you. How about that guys? Today we are adopting Kavion. That looks great. We call him Joy because he is an amazing, joyful little boy. He joined our family in October 2019 and he's been such an amazing part of our family. We love him so much. And we are so grateful for him to be here. We are finalizing the adoption of our son Kavion. Good morning. Yes, Kavi, good morning. That's your name now? Come here. He called his mama the very first day. So we were thrilled and I don't really remember what life was like before. This is just the best day ever and I'm gonna start crying. Kavi, what's today? Today's your gotcha day. Yeah, it's gotcha day. You got your haircut today? Yeah. And you all dressed up? You got your bow tie? Put your sunglasses on. And you can put your sunglasses on. Yeah, look at you. Congratulations. You're at the courthouse. And Kavion, he just hit the gavel and he's now part of our family officially. You guys hit the gavel? Yeah. This is a copy of the adoption decree and what will eventually become his first certificate. We are at Amory Park and this is where we're going to be telling all of our friends and family the big news that we happen today. We're super excited. It's gonna be awesome. And everybody's ready to have a cool dance party in a park, socially distanced with masks. We're coming in means the world that you're here. We, as many of you know, we've been on a pretty epic journey for the last two years. It's your turn. We just share some really exciting news with all of you guys with a whole bunch of different court delays and paperwork delays. We are very, very grateful to a lot of people in our lives for making a very special moment happen for our family today. First and foremost, Rashida, who is in this beautiful, our social worker, say, Mish Rashida. And D-Drive, she's here anywhere. Oh, there you are. Hello, Krita. And the entire DCF team, everyone who's been on this adoption journey with us, our entire MAP family who's here. The adoption of their children or their child. And guys, keep you on the adoption today. I just wanted to say thank you to everybody who's been going through this journey with us. It's been truly, we're truly blessed. Every day we wake up and we're just so grateful for our three children. They're just amazing. And this milestone in our journey, KV's been with us for exactly 343 days. And he's now officially our son. But he was our son the moment we met him and it's been amazing. I just want to, I also want to thank my beautiful wife and mother of three children. She's just an amazing, amazing inspiration for all of us. And especially just an amazing influence on our three children. Thank you everybody for being here to celebrate with us. KV was thanking Ms. Shirley. Ms. Shirley's been with us for a very long time since the kids were little babies. And is really the third parent here. We thank you so much, Shirley. Amazing. And if you know anything about little KV, he loves to dance. And so to celebrate with us, we have some amazing dancers. I'm Anna Dual. Parker and myself, who is the ADLU. That means I'm the worker for the family. And from the very start we're together tremendously. This was a match made in heaven. Usually adoption takes at least two years before it's finalized. So this only took 10 months, 10 months. Which is absolutely incredible. I think KV on what you notice about him is his smile. The first thing. And that's really something that has been with him since the moment I met him. He smiled at me and every day that I would see him, he'd always smile and open his arms up. And I think that really embodies who KV on is. He's just a loving, gentle spirit. And he found a family who brings that out in him and helps nurture him. And he's found more people to love him. And it's really been a gift not only for him, but for the family that they're able to be together. So my name is Shirley. I am the family Nanny. I've been the Nanny for all of them. Even when Lila, the first daughter, was a baby. So I'm part of their family. I am a third parent, you can say. It's a very exciting day for them. They have been talking about doing this for a while now. They wanted to expand their family. I think they found a kid that fits them. And you know, even if it's me, it's kind of overwhelming that they actually got to do this today. It was kind of hard because of COVID and everything, but they got what they deserve. And so did KV. It's very overwhelming for me because I'm actually leaving them. So, you know, it's a very touching day for me that I got to experience this with them. Each year I'm moving on to another state, so I won't be with the family anymore. I'm overwhelmed today. Definitely excited, happy, sad. Ooh, the whole nine yards. You did it. We did do it. Very strong. I'm still catching up. Yes. He's still browsing. He's our baby. I just can't believe how this all came to life. Everything just seems to work for him. We're just so blessed. That's the word. That's the word. This is the same dress that I wore when I met KV for the first time. And I remember that we had picked him up at his daycare and he put his hand against the glass. And right away he started calling his mama and papa. And I wanted to wear this dress and I hoped that he would have this memory of me. He was only two. He won't remember anything. But I wanted to have this memory of that moment. And it just so happened I wore the exact same dress to the court proceedings today when we legalized this adoption. And it was just, I didn't even think about it, just instinctually wanted to wear this dress. I guess this is going to be my favorite dress where I wear it. You know, I think he just adds so much to our family. You know, we were just talking about the first time that we met him and we felt our family was complete. And he's always been such an important part of our family. It's almost what we don't remember before he was here. And with the three of them, they're just so different and so amazing. And we're just so blessed to be part of their lives and be able to make a difference in their lives. And they just love them so much. Kavion, you are an amazing, amazing little boy. And your parents and your brother and your sister are going to love you from now until eternity. You are special and you are blessed. I think about you, I just think about before love. Every time that I saw you, every moment that we spent together, you just filled my whole heart with love. And now you are doing that for your family, for your mom, for your dad, for your brother and for your sister. And I just hope you remember to keep that kindness that you have and keep that spirit that you have that is the best part about you. Kavion, my love, you have... Oh my God, I'm going to restart. Since day one, since I met you, I knew there was a connection between us. The day that you just blindly came up to me and hugged me and kissed me and loved me, I knew that you were part of us. It's amazing the connection that you and I got based on my culture, based on my food, based on my language, based on everything. You mean a lot to me. And I feel like I adopted you both well today. It's bittersweet that our future changed for me and for you, but I'm always going to be part of your family. You're always part of my family. I love you to pieces. We're going to talk and just have memories forever, regardless of where I am and where you are. I love you, buddy. Kavion, Kavion, I just want you to know that we can hear you in the background right now. I just want you to know that we chose you as much as you chose us. And we love you. We want you to be your truest self all the time. Love your sister, love your brother. We love you very much. We love you very much. You're amazing. We're so blessed to have you in our lives. Kavion, if you're watching this and you're older now, you're probably the man that I've always dreamed you would be, kind, compassionate, loving, and to be wanting to change the world, all the things that we want for you. Just know that you have always been loved since you were born, whether it was with your foster family or every day. And just be your truest self because that is the best self you can be. We love you.