A Very Special Birthday and Mother's Day

Last year, my birthday fell on the Thursday before Mother's Day weekend. That evening I went out with a special friend to a Loreena McKennit concert (celtic-gypsy music, one of my fave's) and I proceeded to make it a three day weekend by taking the next day off of school. After doing whatever it is I did all day, I went out that evening with another special friend to scrap for several hours (another fave of mine). I didn't think the weekend could get much better, but it did!

Later that weekend we were approached by family members asking if we would be interested in persuing an interfamily adoption. James and I were totally taken by surprise, but after thinking about it we decided that it was a sign, a gift from above. The timing could not have been better. We had just finished all of our paperwork and chomping at the bit to be parents.

So, Mother's Day of 2007 we decided to persue an adoption. We didn't know when Charlotte would be due. We didn't know if she was a girl or not. We didn't know a lot of things, but over the following weeks we learned all about her and spent a lot of time talking with her birth mother, James' neice. She was born six weeks later and I have been a mom ever since (and James has been the most loving and involved father!)

That was Mother's Day last year. This year, my very first official Mother's Day was also my birthday. Last year was very special and I will never forget that weekend, but this year was even better! I got to share it with my husband and my daughter.

Please enjoy our pictures.

Checking out the goats in the petting zoo.

Charlotte and James pretending to be groundhogs.

She digs the giraffes.

Hangin' with Pops.

Happy girl.

A few days later, Charlotte got her first hair cut. As you can see, she thought it was total bull*&%t. I tried to comfort her, but between the cold water, the scissors, and Daddy snapping pictures, she was not a happy camper.

The new haircut in all it's glory.

Catching Up With Charlotte

Wow, it's been ages since we have posted anything new! It's about time for an update I would say. The last post I made was in April when I was still blissfully off-track and was a semi-stay-at-home-mom. I feel very fortunate to be able to be home for fourteen weeks a year and to spend it at home caring for Charlotte and spending time with the animals. They are still a huge part of our lives too, though the lack of Piper, Caesar, and Moo pictures might indicate the opposite. I better get right on that...

As for the updates, before I went back in April we had two very important events occur. First, Charlotte made her first trip to the zoo. We went on the spur of the moment and when we arrived we saw that the line was a mile long. James noticed that the members line had NO line and we decided to become members! It wound up being a good move--James and Charlotte have been back twice without me! Charlotte enjoyed riding around and checking out all the action. She seemed to notice the giraffes in particular, and James enjoyed the chimps. As one might expect.


The second important event came a few days later when my father arrived from Portland to meet Charlotte for the first time. It was very special to me on many levels. First, it was the first time I had seen my dad in over a year. Second, we got to visit some special places together--some of my dad's old haunts and some places we frequented when I was a kid. And last, because he met Charlotte and we were able to have quality family time.


They make a cute couple.

Original Daddy's girl.

First bowl fo Matzo ball soup at Canter's.

Adoption Finalized and Trip to Sacramento

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.

She's a travelin' baby, made a lot of stops...

Hi everyone! There is a new glitch in the blog system. Our computer is in Charlotte's room, so when she's awake I cannot get on the computer. When she's asleep I cannot get on the computer. So, I have to wait until I have a free moment--such as now!

Christmas time was busy, but over the last two months we have been settling back into our routines. Both Charlotte and I had gotten way off track, namely with her sleep schedule. So after a few weeks of sleepless nights and begging God for mercy, we seem to be back on track! I worked for five weeks before I went on vacation mid-February. Since then, however I have been very busy! I decided to substitute several days to make some extra money for Charlotte and I to buy some new summer clothes. What about Daddy, you ask? He won't mind wearing last year's fashions. Shorts and T-shirts don't change much year to year! While I am on vacation we are also looking forward to taking a family train trip to Sacramento. We will catch the train in Bakersfield (shorter than taking from LA), and when we arrive we hope to visit their old town, the Railroad Museum, the zoo, and eat, eat, eat.

Speaking of traveling, Charlotte has been making the Grandma rounds. She recently went to visit Grandma Helen in Oxnard where she got lots of attention and went to the beach. The weekend after Valentine's Day, we all went to San Diego to visit my Grandma (Grammy the Great). On our way, we stopped in San Juan Capistrano to get a breath of fresh air. We happened to find the railroad station which is situated in a charming "old town" type of area. We walked, window shopped (OK, just me), and watched the train go by. We have included pictures of both trips below.

Charlotte at Grandma Helen's house eating a book. What else?

Sitting on the beach.

Thinking about things...

What's so funny, Charlotte?

San Juan Capistrano train station. Daddy loves trains. I think I can, I think I can.

The only thing Charlotte likes more than eating a book is eating a jar of vaseline.

Lunching with Daddy. Daddy isn't eating much.

Cutie.

Sitting next to Grammy the Great at lunch.

No tea for you yet!

Merry Christmas!

We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season. Our Christmas was particularly special this year because, of course, it was Charlotte's first. And, let me tell you, she made out like a bandit! Clothes, books, toys, and lots of hats. Here are some highlights...

Exersaucer time.

Almost ready to start opening presents.

This cute little hat was a present from Aunt Seiko. Thank you!

Christmas morning at our house. Keep your eye on the baby (in other words, not on me!)

A present from Daddy...

And from Mommy...

And a new monkey for Piper...

She's still learning the subtle differences between eating and opening a present.

Time to play.

First Trip to New Mexico, Mommy's Home State

On December 27, Charlotte and I flew to New Mexico to stay for a week with friends. (Let me warn all of you to do your homework before you go to the airport!!! Southwest was a nightmare--no pre-boarding with babies and kids. What? Apparently they changed their policy...) Charlotte did fine on the flight and was mostly interested in eating and sleeping (thank you, God!). But those of you who know me can guess how I did...I don't think I embarrassed myself too badly...only a few hysterical tears on the initial take off...you think I'm kidding, but...

We arrived in Albuquerque to SNOW! Luckily, it was flurries and after a quick bite to eat, we headed to Santa Fe for the week. We stayed with my childhood friend Amy, her husband, and her dogs Toots and Fleur. The first afternoon, I thought it would be fun to take Charlotte for a walk in the snow with the doggies, but after ten minutes I realized that she was turning into a Popsicle and we were better off inside by the fire. Amy called her husband, Frank, to drive down the street and get us (unnecessary really), but they wanted to make sure we didn't get frostbite the first day we were there. :)

Over the week we were able to relax, catch up with old friends, and see the sights. I chose to go to Santa Fe over the holidays for several reasons including that I wanted to see the city decorated for Christmas. Downtown and Canyon Road (art gallery row) are particularly beautiful with all the luminarias and holiday decorations. I wish I had taken pictures of these places! We also found time to visit the little town that I grew up in part of my childhood, Cerrillos. It's a small town off of the old highway about 25 miles south of Santa Fe. I was able to take pictures there! Unfortunately, it was Sunday when we visited and many of the places were closed--but it didn't matter that much. What I really looked forward to was seeing what was different, what remained the same, and to visit with Charlotte. Mission accomplished. And, last but not least, we shopped. If you know my friend Amy, you know that she and I cannot be in each other's company for more than a few days without dropping some money on clothes.

Enjoy the pictures and once again, we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

The local store where the neighborhood kids went to buy candy and sodas. Notice the pay phone--where we called boys. No cell phones in the early 80's.

This was my daily walk from the store to my babysitters' house. It's across from the church.

My babysitters' home. It has not changed much except they no longer live there. They were elderly when I was a kid. John was a retired coal miner and his wife Frances was going to be a nun before he lured her into marrying him and having eight kids. I was friends with their grand children and after hanging around so much, they formally watched me after school.

The stoop outside a an old friend's house. We sat there often doing a whole lot of nothing.

The church across from my babysitters' house. They have definatley redone the front--I don't remember it looking so nice.

There was a local guy who declared himself to be the town mayor. He has an enourmous curio shop, a petting zoo, and I'm sure a lot of stories about the 60's, man.

View of the arroyo from the petting zoo, curio shop, 60's relic.

With Aunt Amy in Santa Fe.

Childhood friends.

Soakin' in the tub (or sink).