July 22nd, 2009 marks another memorable day for our family. This morning, Deb, myself, Addison and our lawyer, Doug Henry, met at the Dubuque County Courthouse for Addison's adoption hearing. Because we are legally married in Iowa, Deb was able to adopt Addison as a stepparent which protects their relationship in many, many ways.
The experience itself felt very Law and Orderish. We arrived at the courthouse at 8:45am and met our lawyer. We waited about 20 minutes outside of the courtroom with a variety of individuals awaiting their opportunity in court. One family for an adoption also and others who appeared to be addressing other legal matters. We were called into the courtroom, where the other family requesting an adoption was also sitting (all 20 of them!). They seemed to have brought everyone including their next door neighbors. They had us go first because we had a 10 month old who was clearly overdue for her nap. They asked us to rise for the entrance of Judge Shubatt (I kept thinking of Judge Judy) and the hearing started. The judge read the details of the petition and then our lawyer asked Deb questions about her intentions (to adopt Addison) and her means to provide for her and then asked me questions (did I grant this adoption, do I feel that it's in the best interest of Addison) and then the Judge made some closing statements (including that he granted the adoption and Addison's legal name would be changed to Addison Marie Sazama-Nauman). The funniest part of the experience is that when the judge asked Deb to raise her right hand, Addison who was sitting on her lap, also raised her right hand. Everyone in the court room cracked up. Each time the judge asked me a question, Addison responded with some sort of grunt or laugh. She was as usual clearly entertaining everyone.
Cheers,
Mic, Deb and Addison
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