Refinalization Day

What does it really mean to refinalize an adoption that was finalized almost 10 months ago in China? It didn't just feel final that day in Changsha; it was final.

That day China recognized that we were a family, and the U.S. officials do too--as they showed by sending Louis both a Certificate of (U.S.) Citizenship and a Social Security card. But to get Louis a state birth certificate we had to refinalize in our local court. So today we had our day in court.

We take going to court as seriously as we take anything else, meaning I spent last night going through paperwork, wondering whether the judge would ask a difficult question. Does Louis look worried that his parents are his attorneys for the day?



OK, so maybe we weren't all that concerned. I mean, was our county judge going to overrule a decision two national governments were on board with?



Still, we did dress up. And I persuaded Louis to take a couple photos without the lip-whistle that he thought made the photo shoot more bearable.



Oh, the things he'll do for Baba. :)

Louis's cousin Andrew even let him borrow his blazer for the day. (Aunt Katie, who has seen her nephew eat, merely asked that he not eat soup or eggs while wearing it.)







I'm not sure how much Louis understood about the proceedings, especially since I did a terrible job explaining to him why we were asking a judge to say we were a family when we already are and why we were asking her to say his American name was his name when that's already on his Social Security card.

But Louis was actually more enthusiastic about the experience than I was at first--and it was hard not to get caught up in the drama of the day, especially when we saw the other adoptive families. And there was plenty for Louis to enjoy even before we went inside. He loved that there was construction happening on one side of the courthouse. He ran and ran and ran around the plaza in front of the courthouse, which he called the "house-court."








When we went inside, he asked over and over again for the judge, saying, "Meet judge? Meet judge?" As it turned out, we ended up waiting for quite a while to see the judge, so we spent some time playing "Trot, Trot to Boston," driving matchbox cars around, and drawing.

Thank goodness Aunt Treasa had brought a little notebook that was just perfect for drawing Larry the Cucumber and train cars.

Even better, Aunt Treasa brought her camera, and she, John, and I took a few photos while we waited. Louis was pretty successful at dodging the camera.

But when we asked for a silly face, he was more than happy to pose.

Louis asked more than once about this "church" and where the "singing" was. But he was patient and spent some time watching the children in the other families who were also waiting to see the judge. As it happens, we weren't the first family to be called. Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth.

But finally, at long last, we got to meet the judge! Unfortunately, Louis was unimpressed. She was friendly and accessible--he would have preferred that she be the opposite--and she wasn't doing anything nearly as interesting as what the stenographer was doing tapping symbols onto her roll of paper.

Still, the judge got the job done, and she couldn't have been more gracious or determined to do her best to gain Louis's affection--or attention, at least. When Louis noticed a stuffed woodchuck on her shelf, she told him she had been looking for a child to give it to and handed it over. I'd like to say Louis was grateful, but he only said, "Say thank you," after we left the judge's chambers--when she was nowhere in sight.

In typical Louis fashion, however, when he saw the photos of him with the judge this afternoon, he was thrilled and acted as if she were an old friend. In person, he had a somewhat...cooler demeanor.


He lit up when we got back outside, especially when the fountain in front of the courthouse turned on just as we walked past it.

 But just because Louis was happy didn't mean he was going to smile for posed pictures!

So even though he loved the fact that he, Baba, and Grandpa were wearing matching navy blazers...

 ...and even though he wouldn't let go of his new woodchuck...




...and even though he enjoyed having Mama and Baba around for a weekday morning...

 ...Louis didn't perk up until I mentioned going to get something to eat.

Brunch? That's something to celebrate!



Yes, this is the boy who was "reading" storefront signs yesterday as we drove through town and announced loudly, "S-A-L-E spells food!" He happily plunged into his waffles, Aunt Treasa's omelet, the table's sweet potato fries, and Baba's chocolate chip pancakes.

Is there anything more fun than having your own syrup pitcher?

And you will note that Louis is most definitely not wearing Andrew's blazer in these photos.

 

Refinalization. It's not really a word, and as a concept, it's a bit mysterious. Still, we had a wonderful time celebrating our son and our family.

With a full meal inside him and his shirt miraculously clean, this smiling boy who captured our hearts months ago may not be able to define "refinalization." But it's good to know that, for what it's worth, in every court in the land, Louis is seen as our son.

Of course, who needs to enter a courtroom to figure that out? ;)