Week 25 diary - Page two of two

I can't claim credit for the idea of going to the Bear Factory - that was all down to my very dear friend Gill, who had the idea for when her daughter is legally adopted. Thanks Gill!

So that was it. I have to say that both Tim and I hadn't thought the day would make all that much difference as to how we felt towards Jamie, but it really did. I don't honestly know why a day and a piece of paper should make much difference, but we looked at one another that evening and thought, that's it, he's ours forever and no-one can change that. It was a brilliant feeling.

I have to say that looking back over the past two years, which is how long it has taken from us first starting our Adoption Preparation Course, to now being where we are now with our much loved and longed for son, it's not been a bad experience at all. Jamie's arrival has bought a completely new dimension to our lives - everything has been totally put into perspective.

Every day is a learning experience for us and for him - our days are now filled constantly of "What's that?" and "Why?" and we find ourselves having the most amazing conversations with a little three year old who is fascinated with the earth, moon and planets. Our weekends are no longer filled with cinema trips and day long browsing round the shops - they're full of going to the park or McDonalds, colouring and playing Thomas the Tank Engine dominos!

It's not been an easy adjustment for us or for Jamie, and no-one ever knows what the future holds, but the important thing is that we have no illusions that it will be all that "running through cornfields in the sunshine" as said to me by an adoptive parent a few months ago. However, we do feel is that it's all been worthwhile 10 times over and the rewards we are reaping are innumerable.

We have already tentatively discussed adopting a second child at some stage in the future - it's a difficult one really, and the ball well and truly lies in Jamie's court. Our gut instinct is that he would love a brother or sister, but we'll just have to play it by ear. Of course, conversely you don't want a huge age gap between him and a sibling, and we'd be happy to adopt another three year old. This one hasn't been too bad!

Organising my return to work has been a nightmare - as I was the first to go through the new Adoption Leave policy at work, they seem to have been fumbling their way around any obligations they may have.

They know that I want to return part-time, but despite lots of calls and e-mails to them, information coming the other way has been practically non-existent. My boss had quite foolishly said that there wouldn't be any problem at all finding me part-time work - fortunately I didn't take her at her word.

Luckily, I went for an interview for a part-time job elsewhere and was offered it, but they don't know that yet. Once I get my formal appointment letter for my new post, I can be free to tell them, but at the same time I'll be telling them how disappointed I am at how I've been treated. To put it in perspective, my 6-month statutory adoption leave finishes in eight working days, and I've only today had a call back from the HR department saying that they need to talk to me urgently about my return to work.

To add insult to injury, I was given a mobile number to call back on - the cheek of it! Anyway, I'm all sorted, Jamie's nursery place has been arranged and everything is fine and dandy - thank goodness I had the forethought to do my own thing and not rely on them.

Both Tim and I have loved writing this diary, and it has been great to be able to vent a few thoughts and feelings. Now the court day has been and gone, we feel we run the risk of falling into the trap of just writing anecdotes about Jamie and his antics every fortnight, so we'll just drop down to a bi-monthly update from now on.

Mind you, our diary wouldn't be our diary without one final anecdote for now. I was recently in the bathroom with Jamie and had just got changed to go out and was wearing a fitted jumper. Jamie looked at me really quizzically, then said "Mummy.... why have you got two fat bumps in your jumper?". As my mum says "Kids ...... who'd 'ave 'em!!!"