This picture was taken on Charlie’s first birthday, September 20, 2002. His party was the following day, September 21. I thought that I would be ok not seeing Charlie on his actual birthday, but I woke up feeling very sad and called A. a few times through out the day.

She had previously suggested that we meet for dinner on that day, but I had previously said no, not sure how I would feel on his actual birthday. To make a long story short, I needed to see him that day. I needed to be with Charlie and his family, so we did end up meeting for dinner.

If you are a regular reader or know me personally, you’ve probably read before that I met S and A as a waitress at the Tex Mex restaurant where I was a waitress. So we decided to meet at that restaurant for dinner.

At this particular restaurant, when it is someone’s birthday, they announce it to the whole restaurant, bring them a desert, and have them pose for a picture with the big ole’ sombrero. In this picture, A., Charlie, and I are posing and I’m holding the sombrero. Obviously it was way too big to fit on Charlie’s little head!

I’m glad that A. is secure enough in our adoption to recognize and realize that I needed to see Charlie on his first birthday and was open to this and not threatened by it. It was even more special that we celebrated at it the place we originally met one another.

Celebrating your birthson’s birthday at “the place where it all started,” that’s love!