Erin's POV: it's been a little over a month since ember's first birthday which is so crazy that it was her first birthday it seem like yesterday I just had her, she took her first steps on her birthday and she also Took them in such a special place which was the bullpen. we have the big birthday party that Saturday where is the kids got to hang out with their cousins and also be around Jay's dad since he got invited. It's also been a month since Chelsea gave us the paper to officially adopt Porter we are just waiting to hear back on if we got a accept it yet. Right now ember is running all over the place while Porter and Camryn are best friends. The other day will and Natalie asked us to go on a double date and we said yes so tonight Hank has the kids while we are on the double date

J= Babe you better hurry will and Natalie are probably waiting on us right now
E= i'm coming hold on ( walks into The living room)okay I'm ready now
J= wow Erin just wow
E= first off thank you babe
J= no problem
E= and second off you can put your tongue back in your mouth already
HV= haha you look very nice Hank
E=thanks hanks
HV= your welcome
J= all right let's go before will calls us wondering where we are at
E= bye Hank if you need...
HV= if I need anything I'll call you go have a nice night off from the kids
J= all right bye hank

We leave and head toward the purple pig we were within 15 minutes, we had inside and try and find wheel and Natalie luckily for us we find them right away

NM= hey guys
WH= hey brother
J= sorry we are late Erin was taking forever to get ready today
E= whatever jay it's not like you didn't drool all over me when I got done getting ready today
WH= wow she got you there bro
J= I guess I was
NM= it doesn't matter we just got here a few minutes ago before you guys
E= see told you so
J= yeah whatever
WH= so how have the kids been
E= they have been pretty great I think Camryn is ready to potty train now
NM= oh how fun since I had potty train both a boy and a girl now I can honestly say that girls are way easier to potty train than boys
J= well that's good to know with Porter we potty trained him it doesn't take that long though
E= yeah it didn't so how are Owen and Charlotte doing
WH= they are doing great Owen likes to play with Charlotte all the time
E= that's good
NM= so besides having a parents night out we invited you to come out because we have a couple things to share with you guys
J= you do what is it
WH= well the first thing was a couple months ago we decided that I've been in Owens life for long enough that I will officially adopt him
NM= we did ask Owen if he was fine with that and he was so
WH= as of September 7 Owen is my son his name is Owen Jeffrey halstead
E= that's amazing news well I'm so happy for you guys
NM= thanks Erin
J= so happy to officially have a nephew
WH= oh speaking of nephew have you guys thought about adopting Porter anytime soon
E= well it's funny you said that will
WH= it is
J= yeah so last month or social worker Chelsea stopped by the district with the adoptions form since we have had Porter for over a year and a half now it was time to have a permanent placement for him on paper and we handed in the papers the next day to her
NM= have you guys heard anything back yet
E= no we haven't hopefully soon especially since Porter's birthday is here in the next couple days
WH= yeah it would be nice to give him a family for his birthday
J= oh yeah so what is your other news you have to share
NM= how about you tell them will
WH= well Miss Charlotte is going to be a big sister now
E= wait no way you're pregnant
NM= yes I am
J= that's amazing congrats guys
WH= thanks Jay
J= you're welcome
E= so how many weeks are you Natalie
NM= I am 12 weeks almost 13 weeks now
E= wow you're out of your first trimester now
NM= yeah it's crazy

We order our food and talk to Natalie and will until the food arrives, then we eat our food and hang out for a couple hours. After a while we say good night so we all can get some sleep when we get home we say goodbye to Hank and head to bed over the next few days I noticed how sick to my stomach I am so I decided to buy a couple pregnancy test on the way home from work today, when I got home I see Jay is playing with the kids in the living room so I just Watch them for a second

J= kids I say mommy should come join us and not watch us anymore
CN= oh yeah
PJ= come on mom
E= all right let's get daddy
EG= daddy

We play for a few minutes on the ground with the kids and then all the sudden my phone starts to ring

E= hold on A second guys ( answers the phone ) hello it's Erin
CM= hey Erin it's Chelsea Mitchell Porter social worker
E= hey Chelsea how are you
CM= i'm good I hope I didn't catch you or jay at a bad time
E= not at all hold on a second (to jay) hey ja) come here for a second
J= be right back kids what's up
E= Chelsea is on the phone
J= ok put it on speaker
E= okay ( she does) hey Chelsea Jay is here and you are on speakerphone
CM= hey Jay how are you
J= I am good so what's up
CM= so the reason I'm calling is because I have some good news
E= you do what is it
CM= first off sorry it took me a month to get back to you but the good news is you guys are approved to adopt Porter officially
J= wait are you serious
CM= yes I am
E= that's amazing
CM= also I have even more good news to share
J= you do what is it
CM= well on top of getting approved to adopt him we have the date the judge will sign the official papers
E= wait really
CM= yes very excited for you guys
J= so when is the date to have Porter to officially become ours
CM= The date is September 24
E= wait that's tomorrow
CM= yes sorry about that it's his only opening for the next three months
J= it's okay we understand
E= wait tomorrow is also Porter's fourth birthday
CM= I guess you can make this day more special for him now
E= that's a good point
J= what time do we have to be at the courthouse tomorrow
CM= your appointment is at 2 PM
E= all right that works for us
J= see you tomorrow Chelsea
CM= see you guys tomorrow and congrats
E= thanks ( hangs up) oh my God
J= I know come here ( hugs her) I guess we got a big day tomorrow
E= it's going to be one of my favorite days ever
J= mine too I love you
E= I love you too ( kiss)
PJ= mom and daddy
J= I think we are needed
E= oh yeah let's go

None of us wanted to cook so we just ordered some pizza for dinner that night the kids got to bed easy so that was good next morning I got up early and took the pregnancy tests.

Jay's POV: it's been a little over a month since ember turned a year old we had a small party on her actual birthday at work in the bullpen, which is where she took her first steps which is crazy. We also had a bigger party for her that Saturday and I decided to invite my father and it turned out pretty great with him there. Also last month Chelsea our social worker gave us the papers to officially dog Porter which of course we said yes to and we gave it back that I bought the next day, so last night we got a call from Her saying we got approved to adopt him and the judge was able to get it in right away as in today and we have the time to go there. Right now I am waking up to code sheets besides me and I smoke coffee in there so I go out to the kitchen to see Erin cooking

J= hey Beautiful
E= hey you did I wake you up
J= no you didn't I just woke up with nobody beside me
E= yes sorry I just am excited a little bit for today I couldn't sleep much
J= I totally get what do you mean it's going to be a very special day for all of us
E= that is for sure so I know it's last minute and all but do you think we should invite anyone to this adoption hearing
J= I would love to but I don't know if any of them could come with such short notice
E= that's a good point but it won't hurt to ask them
J= yeah no it wouldn't
E= May I ask you a question
J= sure you can babe what's up
E= so would you ask your dad to come to the adoption hearing or not
J= i'm not sure
E= you guys have been getting along pretty well lately
J= yeah we have
E= maybe asking him will be a giant step forward for you guys
J= yeah maybe I'll think about it
E= that's all I ask
J= so what are you making
E= just making some pancakes
J= oh that's good Porter will be happy
E= I think since it's his birthday and his adoption day that I would make his favorite food
J= you are so thoughtful babe he will love it
E= why thank you babe ( hears the kids) I think I just heard the kids
J= all right i'll go get them while you finishing up breakfast
E= all right

I go and get the kids and then we head to the kitchen to eat our breakfast, about 20 minutes later we all get done eating so me and Erin take turns getting ready as we were getting ready I did the dishes about 30 minutes later we were all dressed and ready for work

J= (knocking) hey Peyton
PS= how is it going
E= it's going pretty well
PS= that's good to hear
J= oh before we leave for work we wanted to let you know ahead of time but we will be coming back home early today
PS= you are wise that is something wrong or is someone sick
E= not at all pain it's more for a good reason than anything
PS= that's good to hear
J= so the reason we will be coming home early is we got approved as of yesterday to officially adopt Porter and today is adoption hearing
PS= oh my guess that's so exciting congrats I'm so happy for you guys
E= why thank you so I know it's last minute but would you like to come to the adoption hearing
J= you don't have to say yes we think since you're like family you should be there
PS= of course I'll come
E= all right also Porter doesn't know anything what's happening today
J= so could you...
PS= of course I won't tell him anything
E= all right thanks Peyton
PS= it's no big deal
J= all right see you here in a few hours
PS= all right bye guys

We leave and head toward work, on the way to work I call will to tell him what's going on and ask her if he would want to come to the hearing he of course said yes I decided to call my dad and invite him also and he decided that he will come to. We arrive within 20 minutes Erin stops to talk to platt so I went upstairs and waited on her to come up about 10 minutes later I'm in the break room when she comes in

J= hey what did platt say
E= she said she would be happy to join us
J= that's great are you ready to go tell Hank
E= yes let's go
HV= ( knocking) hey come in guys
J= hey Hank
E= sorry to bug you this early
HV= it's no big deal
J= all right so first off we have some news to share
HV= oh I hope it's nothing bad
E= no it's not it's actually very good news , so remember how last month we told you Chelsea gave us the papers to officially talk to Porter
HV= yeah I remember
J= well she called us last night and we got approved to adopt him and we set up a showing for the actual adoption to happen
HV= well that's awesome congrats guys so when is the adoption hearing
E= actually that's why we are here so the hearing is today at two and we would like to ask you if you want to come to this hearing
HV= wow that's fast
J= yeah but that is his only opening he has a schedule for the next three months
HV= makes sense well we are just doing paperwork today so I think I will give everyone a half a day and if they want to they can come to the adoption hearing with us
E= that's nice of you Hank to do
HV= yeah you guys deserve it so what time do you need to head out of here
J= I say we need to leave here by 12:30
HV= all right that could work

We leave hanks office and tell everyone else what is going on today and of course they would love to come to porters adoption hearing with us. About two hours later we all leave me and Erin get home and get dressed in nicer clothes same with the kids then we all head to the courthouse we arrive first as we wait on everyone else to come

J= so how are you feeling
E= i'm feeling kind of nervous
J= why is that there's no reason to be nervous babe
E= I know I just hope the judge let this happen today
J= come on Erin don't think about the worst case scenario everything will go according to plan I promise
E= I hope so
J= look everyone is here
E= hey guys thanks for coming
VR= it's no problem
KA= you guys are family we would do anything for family
E= how sweet thanks Kevin
CM= hey guys
J= hey Chelsea
E= I hope you don't mind we bought some friends and family along
CM= It's no big deal it's actually a good idea because it says the church that you guys have a large support system when it comes to adopting Porter
J= that we do
CW= hey Miss Mitchell you guys can come in we are ready for you guys
CM= am I are you guys ready for this
E= yes we are
J= hey kids come here
CN= okay daddy
E= when we go inside be very quiet in there
PJ= okay

We all walk in me, Erin and the kids go to the desk area while everyone else piles into the courtroom seats

CO= please Waze for Judge Gabby Clark
GC= hello y'all can we seated now (they sit) so we are here so the little boy can officially be adopted is that correct
CN= yes it is that you should have all the right paperwork in front of you
GC= that I do
CN= also as you can see this whole quart room is filled up. It's filled up with Erin and jay halstead Family and friends to show you that they have a lot of people who support them by adopting Porter and who will help raise him
GC= yes I can see that so based on this paperwork and when I can see if I approve this adoption I just have one question for one person
CM= you do who is the question for
PJ= it's for Mr. Porter can he come closer
J= go ahead buddy
GC= hey Porter my name is Gabby do you mind if I ask you a question
PJ= sure can
GC= so would you like to live with Erin and jay forever
PJ= yes I would
GC= all right buddy you can go back to your parents
E= Way to go buddy
GC= so I signed that as of today September 24 Porter Jacob Scott is now a Porter Jacob halstead case closed
J= thank God that's over
E= The best day ever ( hugs him)
J= we have a son now
E= yes we do come here buddy( picks him up) we love you so much( kiss his cheeks)
PJ= I love you guys

Everyone cheers for us as we sign the official papers. Then we take a family picture in the quart room with a judge. After all that was done we invited everyone back to our house to celebrate, later that night everyone left and all the kids went to bed

E= The kids went down pretty easy
J= that's good to hear wait where is your pant suit at
E= what I took it off to get into my PJs the pants suit isn't very comfortable to sleep in.
J= oh man I love you in a pant suit
E= I know you do
J= brings back so many good memories
E= oh yes it does
J= so Porter is officially ours
E= yes he is but I think when you brought him home about a year and a half ago he has been ours since then
J= couldn't agree more
E= so I know this day is already amazing
J= yes it is
E= well I got one more thing to make it even more amazing
J= you do is it something I can takeoff when we play scrabble later that is underneath that shirt
E= no it's not hold on a second let me go get it
J= okay hurry up
E= okay ( 5 seconds later ) so let me explain that so you know if you days ago Natalie and will told us that they are having another baby
J= yeah I remember
E= well when I really told us I started thinking about how I haven't had my time in the month in a while and then the next few days I started feeling nauseated so this morning I took a test
J= wait Erin are you saying what I think you're saying
E= I don't know why don't you take a look for yourself ( hands over the pregnancy test)
J= ( he looks) no way you're pregnant ( pulls her onto his lap) I am so beyond happy
E= it took me a second but I'm so beyond happy also, let's hope you talk to your little friend because I would love to have a boy this time around
J= oh I did but my luck it's going to be a girl again when did you find out
E= I found out this morning so we aren't only adding one more cat to our family we are adding two now
J= this has been the best day ever
E= yes it has it couldn't agree more
J= so can I take whatever you have under the shirt off already
E= Who said I have anything on underneath this shirt( winks at him)

I pick Erin up and carry her to our room, where we celebrate the good news by playing a couple rounds of Scrabble.

Authors note: I know I haven't said in the last few chapters but they have been trying to have another baby for a couple months now. I hope you like this chapter.