Seven years ago today, at just about this time, Dakota and I stood before a judge (well, actually, he was cuddled in my arms, but I stood!), and we adopted one another.  And--as simple  and as complicated as that--we became a family.  So today, Halloween Day, 2007, is our family's birthday; Koda even took cupcakes to school!

Koda told me last night that he remembers only two things about that day:  the courthouse employee who was wearing the 'bleeding mask' from Scream, and that I, his new mommy, was crying--"a lot".   Below are a few pictures from that miraculous day.