A couple who adopted three boys said watching their development has been "phenomenal."
Phil and Chris, who asked only to be referred to by their first names, marked the final milestone of their adoption journey on Thursday when they were invited to a celebratory court hearing.
The couple, boht aged 40 and from Wirral, have now adopted three boys - Nathaniel, aged 10, and siblings Charlie, six, and Oliver, eight.
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They have shared their story through Adoption in Merseyside in the hope of helping others who may be considering adoption and to dispel some of the misconceptions around it.
Phil told the ECHO: "Our first adoption journey started in 2011 and we decided that we wanted to adopt rather than do anything like surrogacy.
"Predominately we wanted to take a child that may not have had a good start in life and give them that loving and warm home.
"I come from a family of four boys and I always grew up with a great sibling bond with my little brothers, and my partner Chris, he's got a sister so we said that would be what we wanted to do."
After initially exploring their options in 2011, Phil and Chris decided to put their plans on hold for a few years and officially started their adoption journey in 2013.
"We've never experienced any discrimination"
Phil described the start of the adoption process as a real "eye opener" due to the amount of information that you are required to provide about your relationship and you as an individual.
In terms of the misconceptions people often have about adoption, Phil said: "You can adopt if you're single, you can adopt if you don't own your own home, you can adopt if you're a same sex couple, and sometimes there is that view that there is going to be discrimination when it's not there.
"We've never experienced any discrimination whatsoever in that area at all and I think it's that misconception."
Phil and Chris first welcomed their son Nathaniel into their home in 2014 and he was formerly adopted the following year.
Phil said: "After we had our first, the second time around we decided we wanted a sibling for him.
"There were probably less children available to be adopted at the time and we saw his profile on a website called Link Maker - it's a closed down system which is to help try and find matches for children.
"We noticed he was in our local area, we wanted always to have a child in the local area, mainly because again it's taking a child who may not have had a good time and start in life but it could have given them a loving family.
"And then we found out he had a brother as well and they were in placement together at foster care."
"it's been an amazing experience"
Phil said they started making enquiries about why the siblings were not down to be adopted together and discovered "a lot of it was because [Oliver] has got significant needs, so disabilities."
Phil said: "Our eldest child has got disabilities as well and we said we don't really want to see them be separated, can we maybe explore the option of adopting him as well."
Charlie, aged six, was introduced into the couple's home in June 2018 and his brother Oliver, aged eight, moved in in the September on a foster to adopt basis.
The first day Oliver met the couple's older son Nathaniel, Phil said: "We walked down to school and they held hands all the way back up the road, back into the house and didn't stop holding hands at all and that was the first day.
"Then when he had to go back home to the foster carer he was really upset but that's just part of instructions. And then now, they walk around holding hands, cuddling and they just won't leave each other.
"They also want their own space as well, so if they want the space elsewhere then they'll go off into another room and they all have different kinds of hobbies.
"They do argue, they're typical siblings as well. If someone has got a toy that the other one wants they will argue."
Phil said: "I think it's been an amazing experience that's the best I can say, seeing the development of all the children in the different areas has been phenomenal.
"I think when sometimes you see on paper this child and it's got all these problems and issues but then suddenly actually they're meeting and exceeding those expectations it's just brilliant, it makes you feel kind of warm and fuzzy."
Advice for people looking to adopt
For anyone who is looking into adoption, Phil said he would recommend going to an information evening and asking as many questions as possible.
He said: "Ask those difficult questions then, so you can formulate your opinion.
"When you are on the process and you are looking for those children ask about children with disabilities or ask about sibling groups.
"Have those questions with you and if you're in a family unit ask those questions with your partner or if you're single talk to a friend or a family member about it - whether you would consider a sibling group or a child with a disability.
"What would you be willing to potentially accept in terms of disability? Because a lot of children come with developmental delay because they've had a not very good start in life but it's what you as a unit could potentially accept."
If you are thinking about adopting or want more information you can visit Adoption to Merseyside's website here.
