DENVER -- Choosing to have children is one of the most important decisions two people can make. But, not all families begin at birth.
On Friday, the ink dried on dozens of adoption forms, and families were made complete as part of Denver’s 14th Annual Denver Adoption Day.
When it comes to family, the definition of "perfect" varies widely.
"We knew there was a huge need in Denver," said Erica Fehnel. Erica and her husband, Tyler, have been fostering a baby girl named Maya since birth.
Their journey started with a phone call; a child was in need of a foster home.
"The lady was talking to me and said, 'Born June 7th," Erica said.
"At some point, I was like, ‘Wait, did you say June 7th? Wasn't that yesterday?’ And she was like, 'Oh, yeah, I guess that was yesterday.’"
Erica and Tyler had a quick discussion and their minds were made up.
"I was like, 'Ok - we're going to do it. When do we come get her?' And she said, 'Now.' And we said, 'Ok,’” Erica said.
"You don't really have a lot of notice," said another foster mother, Kerry Meyer.
Meyer had a similar experience to that of the Fehnels.
"I was actually on my way to work debating getting a Starbucks, and I got a call and I was like - 'Ok, so I'm going to get a baby instead,'" Meyer said.
They are all part of a network of new moms and dads who fostered children not born from them, but rather, born in their hearts.
"It's kind of like an emotional Ironman," Meyer said.
And after months - sometimes years - of caring for these kids, Friday at Denver’s Lindsey Flannigan Courthouse, it became official.
"It was a super fun, exciting day," Meyer said.
Tyler and Erica are officially Maya's mom and dad.
"She likes to sing and read," Tyler said. “She’s really funny.”
Meyer is officially Sierra's mommy.
"It may not be conventional, but it is perfect," Meyer said.
A process that may have taken time, but a love so perfect, it arrived instantly.
"We were attached pretty immediately," Tyler said.
"I've been committed to Sierra from the day I brought her home,” said Meyer. “But there's something special about being able to say I'm her mom."
In total, 41 families and 54 children were part of this Denver Adoption Day.