[JustCourtney]

While I doubt that we would ever have met if it hadn't been for the adoption, I do consider her a friend. There is an age difference of 11 years - not so much that we can't relate, but enough to have little in common on a topical level. I will say that we share a sense of humor, a stubborn streak, and a similar point of view on lots of the "bigger" issues - politics, religion, basic values.

I see parts of my younger self in her, and wonder how my life would have been without the family I had. I have told her as much, and I think that she appreciated it. She has several older sisters that range from 30-43, and I think that she looks at me as another one in some ways.

When we were first getting to know each other we talked alot, and almost never about the baby. She wanted to know everything about us, and I wanted to know her. Since placement our conversations and visits focus first on our son (I really feel like he is ours - both hers and mine), and then on other things. My husband, her BF, our dogs, jobs, school, tv shows, etc. I really think that all the time we both took trying to get to know each other before really laid the basis for a friendship. At least, I hope so.