We're Home!

We arrived home late on March 19th! Natalie is doing really well. Our pick up trip went really well. Natalie refused to go with us at her drop off. She was so upset her foster mom and her foster mom's daughter had to take her up to our room and calm her down. They finally got her settled in her pack n play and literally snuck out on their hands and knees so she wouldn't see them. It was terrible. That was about 3 pm on March 14, but after a nap she woke up just fine and by Embassy Day on the 17th it was like she had always been with us. You wait through the whole process to get to Embassy Day, but it's actually a big let down. You don't get to take anything in with batteries or electronics so no pics or anything. Picture a DMV from hell. Lots of lines, windows and blue plastic chairs. Oh well, I was just so glad to be done! We were lucky enough to go through it with 2 other families from my agency and one of those agencies actually flew home with us as well. It made it extra special to share all of it with someone else going through the same thing. Both Natalie and her friend were so great on the plane and through the long immigration (since they landed and immediately became citizens we had to go through an interview process). Thank God we were flying direct and didn't have to catch another flight.

We drove up to the house late and every light was ablazin' - there was a big stork out in the yard and signs all over the inside of the house. Natalie smiled and laughed through the whole thing. And she's been that way ever since! She has slept through the night in her own crib and in her own room and she is napping and eating great. She looks for David and I wherever she is and gets upset if she can't find us after a few minutes, so I think bonding is going well.

The boys love and dote on her. Nick is treating her really well, but he is having a hard time I think not being the baby anymore. Natalie was initially terrified of the dog, but now laughs at her - the poor dog just rolled her eyes when I brought "another" one home. :)

Ok, I know, pictures....

Embassy Day


Flying home with a friend...


Literally landing as a citizen...








Easter


First Formal Pics...