A new Kratzer!

At 10:30 this morning, Samuel Myles got a new last name! He is forever a Kratzer. When I was on the witness stand this morning in family court, our lawyer asked me, "Do you  understand that this will be as if you gave birth to him?" I nodded so hard I forgot to say anything, and court reporters have a hard time recording nods.

After a very brief hearing, the judge---who spends most of his day on custody cases and was probably elated to have an adoption on his docket---let us take pictures with him! The police officer and court reporter both came over and held him. I'll get those pics up soon.

The Final Hearing

Next week, the Kratzers will get all gussied up to stand before a family court judge in South Carolina for our final adoption hearing. When we walk out, it will be with Samuel Myles Kratzer, whose legal status will be the same as if I had given birth to him.

Samuel turned four months old on September 2, and he is a character----a flirt who likes to hum as he falls asleep, who goes crazy when he sees the Orioles logo, and who prefers to be upside down whenever possible. He likes green beans, peas, and bananas, but sweet potatoes, not so much. He's a morning person, waking up around 6:00 every morning with a huge smile, expecting a dog lick or two before he gets his bottle. He spends his week days with one of his girlfriends, Stacey or Alyse.

Every few days, one of us will turn to the other and say with amazement, "Hey. You have a son." Next week, a judge will say it and simply confirm what the God of the Universe determined long ago. Thank you, Father.

Filing

Today our lawyer filed paperwork in preparation for Samuel's final adoption decree. We will go to court soon to appear before a judge who will then make him a Kratzer. We thought today was the final deal, but it wasn't.

Almost Legal!

Our South Carolina lawyer just called to tell us that both NC and SC have approved our adoption! (The birth parents are SC residents, so any child they have is considered a SC resident even if born outside the state.) Right now, we are physical custodians; we go to Spartanburg next week to sign the papers making him a Kratzer.

Three Weeks In

Samuel is just over three weeks old, and he has had a few successful outings. He's asleep on his daddy's chest right now, and they are both snoring softly. He has hit a growth spurt and is probably ready to move past three ounces; in fact, he was hungry every two and a half hours today. I had to take him to work today to wrap up the school year (This was our last workday), and he made the first couple of hours fun with five blowouts. Morris Johnson, my good friend whose son was born five days before Samuel, brought little Rob with him today, and our boys should be great friends.

Summer break is here!

One Week at Home

We've been home for a week now, and life is good. Grammy runs the house, Poppy loves on the baby when we're working, and the parents are living off fumes and joy. The routine is down, and we're all starting to recognize which cry is which.

The Name

Samuel means "God heard," "requested of God," "God's heart," or "God's name." Could this name be more suited to this child? fitting?