We got to see you and hold you today. We met with lawyers and your birth family . . . but we still couldn’t take you home with us.

You remain under the care of the state, until your birth family gets all the legal details taken care of. We held you and told you that you are deeply loved. We love you so much we want to take care of you forever.

You really are a perfect baby. Some babies are born looking like old men. Some babies go through rough deliveries, but yours was perfect.

It’s a lot of weight to put on a little girl, but you really do look like a perfect baby.

Your mom held you first, and then, because we were standing outside, on a city street, or because she knows I haven’t held a baby very often in the past 15 years, she was really careful handing you to me.

I held you, until it was time to go, and then I put you in the car carrier.

I held you, and then put you into your car seat for the first time.

Everyone gathered around and watched as I carefully put you in your seat, and strapped you in. And then I took this photo of you.