Saturday, July 5, 2008

We made it home!

After two long plane rides with a four hour layover and a two hour drive, we made it home! Christian was perfect on the 11 hour flight from Taipei to San Francisco - he slept almost the entire way.

At the Taipei airport there is this oasis called the Hello Kitty nursery. Christian loved the bright colors on the walls and there were couches, a crib, padded changing tables, hot water, diapers, and wipes. It was amazing and we spent the majority of our time before our first flight there, with only an occasional gawker to bother us.

I love Hello Kitty!

However, once we reached San Francisco he started to get crabby - and who could blame him? After our wonderful experience with the nursery in Taipei, we tried to find a nursery room at the San Francisco airport. We did find a locked door for a room called 'nursery' that looked promising. However, once we got the code to enter the room we found that the SF airport defined 'nursery' as a dirty glorified bathroom with one toilet stall, a sink, and a fold down baby changing table that was at my shoulder's height. What a letdown! Needless to say, we didn't spend much time in there.

By the time we boarded our flight, he was on the edge and pretty much went over it the entire four hour flight. He cried and screamed during the red eye flight when most people were trying to sleep. I even hid out in the bathroom for a short while to muffle the screams. However, Jeff did most of the holding and so was the one stuck with trying to quiet and soothe an overtired baby, with only marginal success.

The drive from Cincinnati to Columbus was also interesting. Christian cried a little bit in his car seat, but then fell asleep. And this is where all of you experienced parents out there will smile: we tried to feed him since he hadn't eaten well that day. Well, waking him up proved to be the final straw for Christian, who began to hysterically cry and scream almost the entire way home. It was horrible!

Our little (slightly blurry) ray of sunshine, enjoying the ride home

By the time we got to our house, we were all on edge and so sick of traveling. And then we saw this in our front yard:
Isn't that amazingly beautiful? Our neighbors put it up for us! I can't tell you what a welcome sight this was for us. I am so touched by their thoughtfulness.

Anyway, we've been home for two days now and feeling much better, mostly due to my parents who are helping us out so much. Christian is also feeling better, although he has a cold.

Meeting Grandpa

Reading with Daddy

Looking cute

Being entertained

Showing off my hair
Photobucket

9 comments:

Shana said...

Welocome home guys!! At least the long leg of your trip went well:) Don't feel bad, we had "those" kids for both legs of our trip home. So nice to see you get such a great welcome! Enjoy the next few days and try and get some sleep, he, he:)
-Shana

Crystal Dong said...

The Hello Kitty nursery does sound very nice! Isn't it nice to be back home? I hope you will bring him to office soon!

Lori said...

Congrats on being home! Christian is so adorable...just gotta love the hair. So happy everyone is settling in...love all the photos. Congratulations again. Lori M (blogette)

Stefanie said...

WELCOME HOME CHRISTIAN, AMY, AND JEFF!!! Glad you made it safe and sound :-) Don't worry, the horrific flight will fade in your memory. It might even be funny someday! (Or maybe not, but at least it will fade!) Christian is adorable. Enjoy him!!!
Stefanie

Debberoo said...

Welcome home!!! Wonderful photos but I think the one of Christian with his Grandpa is especially precious.

Anonymous said...

So happy you are all home safe and sound. Loved your update and pictures. I was especially taken by Grandpa and Christian. Sooo sweet. He is soooooo cute, Amy!
Love, Libby

Chris said...

What a wonderful welcome home sign-gotta love THOSE neighbors!!!
I am so glad your little ball of fire is settling in to a wonderful family life-now if Momma and Daddy can get some sleep!!
Love ya
Chris

Amy Herr said...

How wonderful to be back home!! I love seeing all the pictures. He apparently doesn't take a bad photo, even when he's upset. I hope you guys have all been able to get some sleep now.
Love,
Amy

Rydley said...

HA! You guys had EXACTLY the same flight experience we had! You and I talked about the Hello Kitty nursery (glad it was a hit) but I didn't mention that people also stopped to gawk and take pictures of us!

Willa also slept from Taipei to SF. SF is when she also hit her breaking point! We also searched out the SF nursery - horrid to say the least. Willa also screamed during the entire red eye flight waking all the business people in the entire plane!! TOO FUNNY!! Glad you're home.