Waterford — Donovin H. Grenier, 6, was at times animated and reserved in the courtroom, first grabbing the microphone at the table as Judge John C. Driscoll convened the proceedings, then burying his face into a teddy bear and the neck of Sylvie Grenier, who in a few moments would be his new adoptive mother.

In the face of this excitement, Driscoll promised to keep the adoption proceedings at Superior Court Juvenile Matters in Waterford "short and sweet."

That was no problem for Aaliyah Grenier, 8, who declared her indifference since "we have a three-day weekend." 

Driscoll asked if they had any questions and then finalized the adoption papers, leading to the real highlight of the day: their first family picture, taken with the judge that made it official.

While adoption proceedings are usually closed to the public, Grenier and the Department of Children and Families opened the adoption finalization as part of National Adoption Day, which raises awareness of children living in foster care.

The Department of Children and Families estimates they will conduct 69 adoptions on Friday alone, and over the course of a year 800 children will be adopted or given subsidized guardianships.

"It's a life-changing decision: they are very nervous," Sylvie Grenier said of Donovin and Aaliyah moments earlier, as Donovin climbed on her shoulder, trying to cover her mouth when she talked about him, while his sister darted around the bench showing off a book about horses.

It wasn't always this way.

When Sylvie Grenier first met Donovin and his sister Aaliyah three years ago, they had been living with biological parents that abused drugs and alcohol. 

Donovin would bang his head against the wall endlessly, while Aaliyah didn't know her last name or the letters of the alphabet and had fallen far behind her grade level in school.

Sylvie became their foster mother in April 2012. She said the lingering effects of their parents' addiction was profound: being around alcohol makes them uncomfortable, to the point where they cannot be in the same room as it.

However, after three years later living in Sylvie's care and both kids are happy and making progress in school; Aaliyah has entered second grade and loves math, horses, and says she will be the next American Idol, while Donovin is starting kindergarten and loves dogs and chickens.

"I've just watched them come a long way," Sylvie Grenier said. "It's very cool to see that growth ... they've done so well."

While the number of children in Connecticut living in foster care has dropped around 16 percent over the past six years, Department of Children and Families Communications Director Gary Kleeblatt points out that shouldn't discourage anyone from considering becoming a foster parent, particularly of older children, who are a particular focus for the department.

"There are some fantastic and wonderful kids who need a home, and adoptive parents tell us over and over that they do it because it's a great experience ... it's a joy in their life," Kleeblatt said.

Those interested in becoming a foster parent can call 1-888-KIDHERO.

n.lynch@theday.com

Twitter: @_nathanlynch