[StephanieMB]

I would send the email. That would be quietly informative and then when extended family members see the new child, it won't be a surprise.

It would be very nice to have a current photo album of relatives. Imagine being the newly adopted child and having to meet everyone! I think it would help tremendously to introduce family to him/her, so that when meeting in person for the first time, the child would have some sort of idea who everyone is already.