The security line in the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse was bubbling with excitement Thursday morning.
Families who happened to arrive at the same time hugged over security rope and grandparents grabbed photos of kids in ties and dresses before shuffling closer to the X-ray machine. Once through — and after kids finished waiting for them — families progressed to the jury assembly room for the start of Denver Adoption Day.
This year, 44 kids were adopted by 31 families during a whirlwind two hours. The second floor’s six courtrooms maintained a steady stream of families coming in and out while the hallway hosted those who were waiting their turn or had just finished.
When including Thursday’s adoptions, 133 kids have been adopted in 2017 through Denver Human Services, the only public source for adoption in the city. But Colorado still has 276 kids both available and waiting for adoption, 24 of whom are in Denver. Across the state, .
Families finalizing their adoptions ran the gamut from single, married, house-owning, renting, straight, gay, old or young. They were dressed nicely, wearing smiles and wiping away joyful tears. All were excited — albeit some slightly anxious — for their day in court.
The Woods Family
Micah, 2, ran between the courtroom pews with a smile while staff prepared for the day’s first adoption. The boy’s soon-to-be legal mother and four soon-to-be legal sisters sat in the first row, attempting to calm him. He ran to the rainbow balloons floating in front of the magistrate’s bench, taking ahold of one before one of the girls corraled him.
“He’s going to tear up the whole courtroom,” said Michelle Woods, who was adopting Micah. “He’s not even like this. He’s usually shy.”
Woods’ sister had Micah two years ago, but Woods took him in two weeks after his birth, caring for him along with her other children. It wasn’t easy. Woods said she didn’t have resources at first and was struggling financially as a single mother relying on disability. But she eventually found help through organizations like the , and .
On Thursday, all of Woods’ children came for the adoption with the exception of her oldest son, who had to work. Woods said he was excited to have another boy in the family. Micah wore nice jeans, a black button-up, black jacket and red tie. His black Nike shoes came in handy as his little feet carried him all over the courtroom.
When it was time to start, the entire family took their places at a table on the right of the courtroom. Micah sat on Woods’ lap but eventually wiggled out so he could visit with his sisters. At one point, he ran behind the judge’s bench to say hi to the court staff.
“We love him. He’s such a joy,” Michelle told Magistrate Melina Hernandez, who was overseeing her first adoption case. “I couldn’t let him be just taken to a state program. I don’t know where he’d end up. I just want him to be with our family.”
Micah walked over to his guardian ad litem, a lawyer who represents people who can’t represent their own interests, and gave her a series of high fives while his sisters told Hernandez that they always wanted a younger brother.
While tearing up, Hernandez granted the adoption as the Woods women smiled, chuckled and dropped some tears.
The Montez Family
All wearing black and white suits or dresses, the Montez family sat at their table in front of a large crowd of family, friends and co-workers. Arlene, 9, and Luis, 5, were positioned between Vincent and Quentin Montez while the couple’s two already adopted children sat to the right.
The that Vincent Montez always wanted kids while Quentin Montez took longer to come around to the idea. Initially, they planned to adopt one child.
“These children, they mean the world to us,” Vincent Montez told the magistrate. “I never ever realized that I had so much love in me for more than just one, two, three people. To find out I have so much love for six people … I couldn’t imagine my life without the five people sitting here.”
Luis came to the family two and a half years ago while his biological sister joined them on June 1. The couple said the two walked in the door and immediately belonged.
The four kids — Arlene and Luis, as well as 11-year-old Marcus and 6-year-old Auriah — get along like any close siblings, which means there’s both love and bickering. Marcus teased Luis like a typical older brother, but Quentin said he found the older boy lying in his younger brother’s bed with him the night before.
The Montezes posed for a photo with the magistrate as a half dozen family members and friends took photos. The large crew made its way out of the courtroom, planning to head to lunch. Luis turned to Vincent as they left, “Daddy, can I have a hamburger?”
The Romero Family
Rebeka Romero fixed the blue headband in 4-year-old Lilly’s hair before walking to the table in front of the magistrate. The two were joined by Lilly’s older brothers — 8-year-old Joseph and 10-year-old Travis — and Rebeka’s husband, Travis Romero.
The brothers both wore suits, ties and glasses while Lilly wore a puffy dress. Magistrate Melanie Gilbert asked the boys how they liked wearing ties. Travis, who is both loud and inquisitive, responded immediately that he loved it. His brother, who is shy, didn’t feel the same.
Rebeka and Travis Romero couldn’t have children so decided to become a foster home four years ago. The kids they initially looked after were reunited with their biological family, which the Romeros recognized as the goal for foster kids, but it still broke their hearts. They needed a break.
“After a few months, we remembered why we were doing it,” Rebeka Romero said. “It’s for the kids, not us.”
So the couple opened their home again. Over the past four years, they’ve fostered 11 kids but Lilly, Joseph and Travis were the first they were adopting.
Although the kids were excited, talking about Adoption Day for the past couple of weeks, the couple said the three didn’t really get the point, especially considering they had already started using the Romero last name.
The Romeros were the last family to go through the courtroom. Extended family watched on as a photographer, who was hired by the family, snapped shots. Once the magistrate approved the adoption, the three kids went into Rebeka Romero’s arms as their father walked over and placed a hand on Joseph’s head.
“To us, they were already our kids,” Rebeka Romero said. “It changes it legally but in our hearts, it doesn’t change anything.”
