I became Jonah’s legal parent today. That will be my designation on his new birth certificate: “parent.” Janet is “Mother.” I don’t have a problem with it. We all know I’m his Mama.

It was a fairly unremarkable occurrence, but it was completely awesome inside my head and my heart. Here’s how it went:

We got all ready and drove to the Dekalb County Courthouse. We went through security and met Lori, our lawyer. Jury selection was happening today for the Burrell Ellis case, so there was quite a bit of flurry, and there was a tv truck out front. We saw ol’ Burrell – he looks like Gus from Breaking Bad. Anyway.

We went up to the 7th floor to see Judge Johnson. Lori prepped us that it would be a very short event in the judge’s chambers (not clad in wood, as it turns out – just an office with a nice view). The judge had at least two more adoptions this morning, and then she’d sit through pre-trial blah-blah for the Ellis case! A minor local celebrity judge did our adoption!

We got ushered in by the judge’s clerk (I think?), and met the judge. She was very nice, though she hardly said a thing to us (not because she was rude or shy, but because Lori did all the talking). Lori swore us in (hands raised and everything) and asked us some questions to made sure we were both aware of the gravity of the adoption for both of us and for sweet Jonah. Speaking of Jonah, he was totally cool the whole time, and smiled his face off during The Proceedings. Such a good fella. Then the judge signed the paperwork, we took a few quick pictures (that are horrible – I’ll add one to this post later when I’m with the camera again), and we were whisked out. It was less than five minutes.

Lori then took us downstairs to the Clerk’s office or whatever, where we received a copy of the final judgement and other important paperwork. They want us to send them a picture of Jonah to add to their extensive collection of happy faces on the walls of their break room – how sweet! We packed up and headed out. All told, we were there for one hour, including time for lots of chitchat.

Afterward, we went to Ria’s for celebratory pancakes! Jonah had a celebratory nap. It was a great morning.

I don’t really feel any differently, but I do remember at the beginning of Jonah’s life feeling like I was “less than” in the eyes of the law, since we had to do a lot of stuff that required Janet – specifically – because she was his only legal parent. And now I’m also his legal parent, so when that stuff pops up in the future, I can do it too.

That was our morning. That part of this journey is complete. 🙂

I told you it was awful. I look like a freak! As usual.