Welcome, Jett!

Last night was the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

My sister and brother-in-law started the adoption process nearly three years ago, and last night, finally, finally, finally, Jett flew into our family, all smiles and cuddles.

We have been watching him grow up from afar for one and a half years - he'll be 2 in September and he was matched with T&B (my sis and bro-lo) when he was 4 months old. In the brief videos we've been able to watch of him, he always seemed quiet, contemplative and incredibly sweet. Many times I've wanted to plop a big kiss on the computer screen just watching him.

Waiting to get the call that J was coming was like waiting for labor. We had no idea when it would happen, but just knew it could be any day. Then on Friday T&B got the call that he would be here Wednesday. We didn't know what his first moments here would be like - he'd be tired, in a foreign country with people speaking an unknown language. So we were prepared for a messy airport scene - lots of crying, and not just from us.

But if you had pictured a romantic, beautiful homecoming - you would have pictured it aright.

Alas, I can post no videos or pictures because of some rules or other with the adoption agency, so you'll have to rely on my description.

My family, being my family, arrived over an hour early to stand at the top of the escalators, waiting to see the new family. Beyond reason, we watched each new group of passengers arrive, thinking maybe, just maybe it would be them. Allie was a trooper and remained quiet, if tired, through the whole escapade, despite it being later than she had ever stayed up before.

Finally, someone yelled, "It's them," and pointed. We saw T coming up crying - she hates to cry in front of others, but is a cryer nonetheless - and B carrying a boy resting his head on his chest.

Despite having flown from South Korea all the way to Denver - a flight I've done myself and was rather crabby afterwards - J was just like he was in his videos. He smiled and waved and ran and had a good ol' time. Someone gave him a stuffed dog and he held it and kissed it on the nose many times. He loved yanking on the Elmo balloon a friend had brought, and he especially loved giggling at another friend's two little daughters, adopted from China, perhaps happy for more familiar looking faces.

J had to hang around with us for an awful long time - although we're from Colorado, we've mastered the Minnesota Goodbye. But he was just a perfect little pea the whole time. Allie was beyond tired, so she just sat like a lump in my arms - not reacting to much of anything, not even to J stroking her face.

So now the next chapter begins, and we can't wait to see what will unfold.

Here is a video of all of us waiting around at the airport- sorry, no J in it!



And, just 'cause I like you, here's a video of Allie crawling. She has changed so much in the past week since she learned how to do it!