Bette: Now you what, love me?

Janet: What in the world are you smoking girl. Whatever it is I want some.

 Bette: Seriously we had an amazing weekend. Angelica stayed in LA with my sister and friends. Tina and I really connected and did some planning. I hope to start the process to officially adopt the baby. We didn’t finish the process in California before I relocated, but we think we have everything lined up to do it here in New York.

Janet: Oh, wow that is so exciting, congratulations. Are you nervous?

Bette: Absolutely, it is unnerving to have to prove that I am fit to be her mother. Tina and I planned for her arrival, picked the donor, did prenatal visits and I was there for the birth. In fact Tina had complications and didn’t even get to hold the baby for a few days after the birth. I am the first mother she knew.

Janet: Wow that must have been a scary, yet exciting time.

Bette: Angelica is actually our second child. Tina miscarried our son. He would have been almost 4 now.

Janet: I’m sorry. Just know that miscarriages are more common than people think and not anyone’s fault.

Bette: Yes, it was a hard lesson for us, but we feel grateful to have Angelica.

Janet: Let us know if there is anything we can do to help with the adoption process. I’m not familiar with the process that gays have to go through, but we’ll support you anyway we can.

Bette: Well, we are doing what is called a second parent adoption. Tina is consenting to have me be Angelica’s other legal parent. The donor is just that and has no parental claims or rights to the baby. He is actually a friend of mine and we have legal documents establishing those facts.

Janet: See, I learn something new everyday.

Bette: Well it is great having a friend who cares, especially one who isn’t gay. That means a lot to me and I hope I can keep talking to you through the process. I really got overwhelmed when we started the process in California. We are in a much better place now so I think we’ll handle the process here just fine.