Adoption Day in Salem Massachusetts
Just a few weeks ago, in mid November, it was a very big day for many families celebrating a new family member by adopting children around the country, and right here in Salem, Massachusetts. Adoption in Massachusetts can take many months, sometimes years! So when the official National Adoption Day took place the week prior to Thanksgiving, Salem Probate and Family Court decided to celebrate with an Adoption Day event.
Included in the celebration was a beautiful little 1 year old baby girl named RoseMarie, who I had the pleasure to meet recently. She and her parents came to the studio just a matter of days prior to the official adoption. They were over the moon about their little girl and looked forward to the legal adoption with great anticipation. RoseMarie has been a part of their lives since she was a newborn baby.
The Salem News ran a lovely article about the National Adoption Day event, featuring RoseMarie and her father on the front page!
Photo credit: Hadley Green. To see the full Salem News article, click here.
First Birthday & Adoption Milestones
RoseMarie reached her first birthday just a month prior to her adoption day, so there were two major milestones adding to the excitement and desire to schedule a family portrait session. I could sense how grateful the family was to have this baby girl in their lives, and it was a pleasure to have them in the studio. Adoption can be a long emotional journey, and this family was feeling so blessed.
One special dress that RoseMarie wore, belonged to her mother and was handmade by her grandmother many years ago. I am deeply touched when a parent brings a sentimental and meaningful item like this yellow knit dress. She was adorable in it, and was wearing it on her adoption day, too!
Along with the special yellow dress worn on her adoption day, a favorite portrait of RoseMarie from the studio session was the one of her in a tutu with pearls, a signature look for her age. What struck RoseMarie’s mother was the warm feeling of capturing her as a baby, showing lots of bare skin and bare toes, representing the innocence and babyhood. Before long, she’ll be an active toddler and will grow and change into a little girl, so it was important to have a permanent reminder on the wall of their home of RoseMarie as 100% baby!
And since she had reached the first birthday milestone, it was time for a cake smash! Perfect for the baby album we designed, as we were able to tell the story of the cake smash over several images in the book.
Congratulations to RoseMarie and her family, and all the families grateful for their adoption in Massachusetts, celebrating a new family and new chapter in their lives!
Bobbie Bush is a Massachusetts based portrait artist, with a professional studio located north of Boston in historic Salem, MA, specializing in children and family portrait photography. Voted Best Children’s Photographer in Boston in 2017 by the Boston A-List. Visit our baby specialty page for more information.