Hallelujah!!!!

A small miracle has occurred: Today I went to the social security administration's office in downtown Portsmouth, found parking really easily, was in and out in twenty minutes, and....

They actually are changing my last name to Bowling!!

I flat-out don't believe it, but the girl who helped me swore I'd be getting my new social security card in the mail within two weeks. This is a big load off of our minds (well, mine at least), because we really did want to make sure that Baby Bowling was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowling, not Mr. Bowling and Hey Mom, Why Does It Say Marshall Here On My Birth Certificate? I do think it's easier for little ones to get the idea of a family when everyone has the same name.

The reason this is such shocking and delightful news is that I waged a three-year war with Social Security in Oregon to no avail, and without getting into painful details, was told time and time again that I had done it wrong, was missing key documentation, was a bad bad person who may not in fact exist.... you get the idea. They were determined not to help me. Contrast this with New Hampshire's service and you get yet another reason to be happy we're living in this state!