Finally, A Family of Four!

Thank you to everyone for your overwhelming love and support. We appreciate all of your prayers and well wishes. For the most part Bethany is doing amazingly well. I woke up Wednesday morning hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, and God was gracious to give us a wonderful first meeting. I was just as calm as the night before and I attribute it to the fact that after waiting five long years, I was more than ready for this day to come.

From our very first meeting in San Francisco, Bethany took to me very well and did not cry at all until her first diaper change. She seems to be fairly easy going but, as noted in her previous Well Baby Checks and her Pre-Flight Report, she definitely lets you know when she is not happy.

We were concerned about the plane ride home, but she fell asleep in my arms before take off and slept the whole way through, much to the relief of the passengers around us, and myself of course. I was also concerned about the car ride home, but again, she fell right asleep in her new car seat. So far so good right?

Once home we quickly discovered a few things.
She does not like:

• baths (her Pre-Flight Report stated she liked baths but apparently she did not care for the one we gave her)
• diaper changes 
• clothing changes
• the intial strapping in part of the car seat and highchair
• when I'm out of her sight
• Daddy's coarse dry hands (Daddy better pour on that lotion!)

She does like:

• to eat (snacks, baby food, milk, you name it, she likes it!)
• to be held
• her big brother
• to sleep on her tummy
• to be sung to (Sam and I have been singing the handful of Korean songs we know over and over again)

Last night was a bit tough for us (but better than we expected) as she was still on Korea time and we were trying to figure out her schedule. We are trying to follow her normal sleeping and eating schedule as much as possible but all the while also trying to slowly and carefully adjust her to American time. She first fell asleep at about 7:40pm and we cautiously placed her inside the crib (in Korea she slept next to her Foster Mother on the floor every night). Sam and I thought it was too good to be true and we were right. She woke up about an hour later and then slept on and off until about 3:30am but never back in the crib. We then gave her a bottle (she drinks 8 ounces!) and some snacks and then she slept on the living room floor until 11:40am. Sam and I were able to sleep here and there but I'd have to say that Sam did the bulk of the staying up as he says his first priority is to keep me as healthy as possible. Thanks Sam!

Once she was up for the day, she had another 8 ounce bottle, snacks/food, playtime, a nap and then we went to Babies R Us. She cried during her bath again and fell asleep from 7:30pm-11:00pm in her crib. We fed her a bottle and some baby food, played a bit and she finally went back to sleep moments ago at 1am on the floor of her bedroom.

We are so thankful for such a smooth transition so far and pray it will only get better and better. I instantly felt like she was part of our family when I first held her in my arms and hope she feels the same way too. We are so thankful for our daughter and praise God for His great faithfulness.

Now for some pictures! For the sake of time and me squeezing in some sleep before she wakes up again, I'll only post a handful of pictures from our time in San Francisco and then hopefully follow up with the rest another day. I also want to post pictures from the homecoming we received from our dear friends and family at LAX. Stay tuned...

Packing up the car at 5am to catch our plane to San Franciso

Our hotel room at the Mariott

(a big thanks to our friends Norma and Wesley for the room!)

Wednesday morning at 5:45am just before I woke up my two sleepy heads.

Her flight from Seoul is on time!

Passing time while Bethany clears customs.

Here she comes with her escort!

(austin took this picture)

(and this one too)

Our very first meeting

Bethany and Daddy

Next is big brother's turn.

Group picture with the other babies, escorts, volunteers and Auntie Mia.

(thank you to mia, norma and warren for joining us on such a special day and for taking video and photos. we are so grateful!)

As we were waiting for takeoff, Bethany fell asleep in my arms.

She also fell asleep on the ride home.

Her first night home.

Before  I head off to bed I'll leave you with this shot of us playing.