It's a Boy!

Name: Collin Alexander Baker

Weight: 100 lbs

Height: 5'2"

Personality: White and Nerdy

Interests: Seinfeld, NPR (Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me ...), Legos, Video Games, and Reading

Favorite Food: Mac 'n Cheese

Favorite Color: Blue

What's all this about?

As of 13 October, 2009, TJ and PJ are the proud parents and owners of this fine specimen. Yes, we received an email from our lawyer on Sunday morning with a copy of the signed court order and certificate of adoption for Collin. With this court order, Patrick is now Collin's father. A new birth certificate will be issued listing Tracy and Patrick as Collin's parents and his surname was officially changed to Baker by the court as well.

We began this process back in April, but because we live in Africa, it took a bit more time than we thought it would. It was a simple process overall, however. Our lawyer was able to get things like the "Home Study" waived, which was a huge help. We told Collin this year on Father's Day while we were eating breakfast in Nairobi, Kenya and he was quite excited. He has been waiting for this day for the past several months, so he was happy this morning when we told him. Here are a few family photos from our trip to East Africa, when we learned from our lawyer that in a few short months we would have all the final documentation for the adoption.

PJ, TJ, and Collin Baker
at Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Collin and Patrick at the entrance to
Amboseli National Park, Kenya.

Patrick and Collin at our campsite
in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background.

PJ and Collin by the lakeside in
Ngorongoro Crater, with a hippo looking
on at them in the background.

PJ, TJ, and Collin at Olduvai Gorge
Tanzania.

PJ and Collin waiting to drink coffee and Milo
before heading out on safari in the Serengeti
National Park, Tanzania.

Early morning in our campsite at
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

TJ, Collin, and PJ with Lake Manyara
(Tanzania) in the background.

Collin walks back to his tent in the Serengeti
after a cold shower while his happy parents
snap a picture of him under a warm African sky.