Today, in the chambers of Judge William Ray II, we finalized our Domestication of a Foreign Adoption (i.e. readoption) for Andrew. It was a 5 minute formality in which we answered a few questions about our adoption and then Andrew entertained us. Judge Ray had a little surprise in mind for Andrew. He asked him if he wanted to see the inside of a courtroom. Little did we know… it was a full court room… a group of people patiently waiting for Judge Ray to take the bench!
We took the secret elevator down to the back of the courtroom and the Judge told us to go in the side entrance. We walked in and the courtroom was dead silent – and very full. Assuming the Judge knew this and that he sent us in the right way, we just stood there like a deer caught in headlights and on display. A few seconds later, the Bailiff says loudly, “All rise…”.
Everyone stands and in walks a 40 inch little guy in his “fancy clothes” with the judge right behind him. He hops up in the judge’s chair as though he’s done this before and starts to talk. He wasn’t quite sure what to say so he turned to the Judge and whispers “What am I supposed to say again?”. The Judge whispers in his ear and Andrew leans into the microphone and says “You may be seated.” He then realizes that his voice got super loud in the microphone and he starts to talk nonsense with his mouth virtually on the microphone. Keith and I busted out the door and ran to grab him before he said something we might regret. :-)
The courtroom thought it was awesome, the judge’s clerk said he was the cutest little thing and we just beamed from ear to ear. How awesome is it that the judge let him do that? As an aside, I sat on a jury about 4 years ago for a child molestation case. I won’t get into the details but it was quite unpleasant. Judge Ray heard the case and I was so impressed with him then. Today was just as impressive – such an engaging man!
So, we can now go to Vital Records and get a Certificate of Foreign Birth, which will allow us to put all of Andrew’s Russian documents in a safety deposit box. I hate having to pull out his Russian documents because I know that if I was to lose something, replacing it would be next to impossible. I really want to get everything out of the house in case of a fire or flood, God forbid.
Here are a few pictures we took before our finalization… trying to keep busy. Andrew took the one of Keith and I. :-)
Oh happy day!
Becky
17 comments:
What a wonderful and kind judge you had! Andrew looks so precious all dressed up. Congratulations on getting this last paperwork accomplished!
OMG...He's looks so darn adorable in his little vest and tie! I wanna squeeze him! That Judge is an awesome guy to give Andrew such a memorable day. Congrats!
Nana
Man, that sounds like so much fun! I have always wanted to do that! I don't think Andrew will ever forget that one. How wonderful. What a great experience. You look beautiful by the way!
Kristine
Ok now I am going to be singing "Oh Happy Day" now! I love that song.
What a cooooool judge! How hysterical! And what a great experience for all of you.
What a relief it will be to get a US birth certificate! Woo hooo! Congrats!
I have only readopted one of my three... bad mommy! Maybe THAT should be my 2010 goal! :) It certainly makes more sense than the napkins.
Congrats on finally being really done with applications and paperwork. Except for those pesky post placements and the new stuff for your DAUGHTER!!!!!
Andrew is adorable in his dress-up clothes! That's a very cool story. Do you have to address Andrew as "Your Honor" now? He's such a good negotiator, he just may have a future on the bench.
We really need do Lexi's readoption soon. You'd think after attempting to take her out of the country using her Russian passport that we'd have learned a thing or two about procastination. (So when I started reading your post, I was secretly thinking 'Yes! We are not the last APs to do this. You guys were home way before us!') So THANKS for the reminder that we need to get busy for all the exact same reasons you mentioned!!!
What a great story! Congrats your domestication! (It sounds funny when I say it that way, but you know what I mean!)
Okay, I was listening to Chris on the phone (half listening) and reading your blog post and CRACKED UP! Poor Chris was telling me all about his jobsite woes... and I'm laughing! Of course I had to read it to him over the phone and then he was laughing too. He agreed you definitely had one of the coolest judges!
And I agree with Kristine- you look beautiful!! I actually love the photo that Andrew took of the two of you. :-)
Awesome! What a great judge!
He is so stinking cute! Look at him in that little tie!
We have got to do this but I am waiting for Peyton and then we will get them both done !
Nicole
Congrats to y'all! What a fun day for the little guy.
That was so AMAZINGLY sweet! Loved it!
Priceless photos!!! What a happy day!
What a wonderful judge! Our judges never did that for our "readoption/domestications". Andrew looks so adorable - what a character.
Myra
THAT is hilarious! What a nice guy to let Andrew do that.
We had a very strict, no-nonsense kind of judge and it wasn't fun at all. Although my kids weren't with me, it was just me, my lawyer and the frumpy, mean judge.
Seems your judge understood what you'd been through to get Andrew, and wanted you to enjoy this moment by letting Andrew have one of his own. I like your judge.
Congrats on this step!!!!
That's so cool that the judge let Andrew do that and he is just too cute! We had to do our hearing via telephone since we were about 8 hours from the judge.
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