On March 7, 2008 Charlotte officially became Charlotte Cameron Purse! James, Charlotte, James' mother Helen, and I headed down to the San Fernando Court House in the early afternoon for our court hearing. We weren't sure what to expect, but we had heard beforehand that judges like adoption hearings because they are generally a happy and positive court proceeding. Still not sure how it would all go, we waited quietly and reverently with our halos on for the judge. After a short wait, she entered the courtroom and came over to us to introduce herself. We then all sat at a confernce table and the proceedings began. As the judge narrated the proceeding for the court reporter, she made many references to "beautiful baby Charlotte", "handsome father James", and "beautiful mother Catherine." It was very sweet. We reviewed the paperwork, took an oath to be the best parents in the whole world (ha ha), and gladly signed on the dotted line to make Charlotte's adoption legal, final, and forever. Charlotte sat on James' lap drinking her bottle and James' mom snapped some pictures.
We literally raised our right hands as we swore that we were to be what they call in the adoption world, a "forever family."
Posing with the judge after the proceedings.
Happy.A few weeks later we took a family weekend trip to Sacramento. James had been reading a book about the transcontinental raidroad and learned that Sacramento had a really fabulous train musuem. So, we looked into taking the train to the train musuem! I myself have always loved Sacramento (though I had only passed through driving on my way to or back from Portland), so I was excited about spending a few days there. We visited Old Town Sacramento, took a river boat, visited the railroad musuem, visited the state capital, walked all over the city, and ate at some great restaurants. Charlotte is a really easy baby when it comes to being out and about, and most of the time she was either taking it all in or asleep. Which is what a vacation is all about! Needless to say, we had a really, really good time.
Daddy gets a close up of Charlotte.
Sitting with Daddy on the train.
The capital building (I guess that's obvious).
Charlotte going "woo hoo" in the capital.
Just what it says.
Old Sacramento still has some of it's orginal buildings. 
Riding the riverboat.
Dinnertime. 
Strolling through the city.
