We are HOME!

What can I say about the 14 hour flight?  Ben only slept 4 hours, but he was great, as usual!! He hardly fussed at all, and did not out and out cry.  In the beginning, he was fascinated with the headphones and listening to music:

When the plane landed, both Tom and I began to hold back the tears.  People started asking about Ben as we were waiting to get off the plane (probably because he was waving to everybody around us), and when they found out he was about to become a U.S. citizen and had just landed on U.S. soil for the first time in his life, everyone around us was congratulating us and him and he was enjoying it, including blowing kisses to the woman next to us.  As we waited in the immigration line, I felt like all eyes were on us and was so moved that just this random group of strangers were so happy for us.  We were sent to a certain immigration officer who was also so kind (tough burly looking guy, I would have never expected it), going on and on about what a miracle adoption is and how Ben is going to do great things in his life...it was surreal, all these beautiful people around us.

Tom and I took a second and looked at each other before we stepped through the doors to meet our family.  It was a like another new beginning for the three of us.

Cousins waiting

His cousin offers her pacifier as a peace offering-did not work :)

Tom's family

Kara's family

When we pulled up at our house, I looked up at the front window and said to Tom, "there is a Christmas tree in our window."  My parents surprised us by getting a real Christmas tree and decorating it with lights and a paperchain Ellie and my mom had made the weekend before.  I LOVE Christmas and having a tree, so this makes me SO happy!! There was also a Fischer Price Nativity scene under the tree for Ben-

My mom and I were out shopping after Christmas two or three years ago when we saw these cute people ornaments.  I thought they were too expensive, but my mom picked out a woman, man and baby, bought them and said she would give them to me when we had our first child. Neither of us knew it would take so long, and each following Christmas I thought about those ornaments, wondered to myself if she still had them.  There were only three ornaments on our tree:

My mom and Tom's mom made us some food, and my girl friends- all who have their own stuff going on- filled our freezer with frozen meals, including congee (thanks Sara).  My friend Sarah, who I know organized the freezer stuffing, also showed up at the airport with Puffs, which was the only thing Ben wanted anything to do with!!

Soooo...it has been a day and a few hours, and we are doing OK.  Our sleep is a little nuts, and with the exception of Ben waking up for 2 hours in the middle of the night last night, sleep is OK- we have been co-sleeping, but he napped in his crib today for 3 hours with no problem.  He took a second nap with mom and George on the couch while watching Calliou on T.V., and I thought he would be up late tonight, but at 7:30 p.m. he completely melted down, and fell asleep in just minutes. 

He is eating great, we are continuing to figure out what he likes (Chinese fried noodles, I made some today and he clapped his hands at them) and doesn't like (orange juice, but he loves oranges). 

He is doing great with our two little dogs, he finds them interesting and they are interested in his food.  

Our flat looks like a complete war zone, with toys, baby clothes, mail, and half unpacked luggage everywhere, but we are trying to focus on Ben, the house can wait-just nobody come over just yet :) 

This morning he woke up a bit early at 5:30 a.m., so we let Tom sleep and had breakfast, took a bath and got dressed,  then I was actually able to leave the house today(!) while Tom played with Ben and a second time while Ben napped.

Best thing to have at my feet while cooking him scrambled eggs (another thing he loves).

 Most people know I can be a little high strung (as I stare at the baby monitor between sentences to make sure Ben is breathing) so it felt so nice to put it all in Tom's capable hands and run to Target, Gap and Buy Buy Baby.  We also got the pictures back from the cameras we mailed to the orphanage  but that is for another post! I can't believe Christmas starts tomorrow, knock on wood Ben makes it through 2 long days! More than anything, I just can't wait to stand at Christmas Mass with my little boy in my arms.