Nearly 40 families celebrated the addition of one or more adoptive children Thursday as part of the Administration for Children’s Services celebration of National Adoption Month.

The adopted children, ranging from below the age of 1 year old to 19 years old, were showered with gifts, entertainment and love.

On average, the families have been going through the adoption process for about two to three years.

Both the children and their new parents tell News 12 that they can't believe the day that they've been looking forward to for so long finally came.

“I told my children, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life,’” says adoptive mother Julie Lewis.